wait on Him... Isaiah 8:17...

I will wait for the Lord,

who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob,

and I will hope in him.

Isaiah 8:17 ESV

Isaiah... God's voice in the midst of a rebellious people...

Do not do as they do... God told Isaiah...

Do not fear what they fear... you fear Me... 

The Lord will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense...

a rock of stumbling... to those in Jerusalem...

(Isaiah 8:11-15)

Sometimes... people... as a community... move so far from Him... He hides His face... His presence... from all... as discipline...

The rebellious fall... break... become enraged... when God turns His face...

they rail against Him even more... find Him useless... 

But the faithful... like Isaiah... finding themselves in the midst of the fallout... do not fear... do not fall... they continue to wait for... hope in... the One whose face is turned...

To them He is a sanctuary...

their source of hope...

I look at today's cultural climate...

and wonder at the similarities...

so for the faithful... this word is for you...

Don't do what this people do...

don't fear what they fear...

fear Him...

wait for Him...

hope in Him...

and He will be your Sanctuary...

while everyone else... stumbles...

wait on Him... another thought on Psalm 130:5-6...

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen in the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 130:5-6 ESV

Watchmen... their work is intense...

watching for dangers... threats... attacks...

watching... waiting... for the morning sun...

the cover of darkness no longer an asset to the enemy...

the night's work done...

Watchmen... that's who we are to be right now...

intensely watchful in our dark world...

watching for dangers... threats... attacks...

ready to sound the alarm...

As I continued to consider these verses yesterday...

the intensity of the watchmen's work caught my attention...

resisting the urge to rest the eyes... sleep... take just a little nap...

but that's not allowed... it's dangerous... 

putting the watchman and others at risk...

Spiritually... we must beware falling asleep...

becoming complacent... overly confident... distracted...

it's not time... we must remain intensely vigilant...

it's still night... darkness covers the earth...

And as I thought about waiting on the Lord...

His coming in the east as sure as the dawn will shine...

I was overwhelmed with the relief... joy... victory...

we will feel... experience... when His Light... rises above the horizon...

"... For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west,

so will the coming of the Son of Man. ..." ---Jesus

Matthew 24:27 ESV

It will be over...

the work done...

a time for rest...

joy...

peace...

But NOT yet...

Now we must remain watchful... waiting on Him for the sure promise of victory... as sure as the rising of the sun... but we don't arm ourselves with caffeine... we arm ourselves with the Word...

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well

to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns

and the morning star arises in your hearts...

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

Stay awake... wait for His dawning Day...

wait it out in the Word...

prayerfully... obediently...

filling yourself with His promises... His strength... His Truth...

The Day is coming... the night is nearly over...

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness

and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:12 ESV

wait on Him... Psalm 130:5-6...

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 105:5-6 ESV

I'm learning about waiting these days...

changing my perspective on what I wait on...

hope in... desire for...

I'm not sure I can put it in words...

the shift in my waiting...

but this psalmist does a fine job...

of sharing what I'm beginning to feel...

Waiting for the Lord...

fully hoping in Him...

is the only way to wait...

I've been waiting for many things... as I've shared here...

waiting on loved ones... waiting for change...

waiting for transformations to change my life too...

But what I'm beginning to see...

is waiting for things to change in this world...

change hearts... change circumstances...

would be good... but not great...

If I got what I wanted... and things changed in the lives of loved ones... and in my life... the change at least in what I desire in the here and now... would eventually end...

People grow old... die... at least for now in the physical...

And Yes... I understand the heart changes I long for are for all eternity...! but what I've recognized is my desire for the change to make my life different now... in the temporal...

Any temporal... timely... change in the flesh... is just that... temporary...

To wait on Him... is to hope fully in Him... and all He'll bring about at His return...

I've begun to see whatever I hope for... or imagine... in the here and now... is far less than what He longs to give me... 

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

He wants to give me something better... eternal...

something beyond my wildest imagination...

beyond anything I could dream up as good... great... wonderful...

Those faithful listed in Hebrews 11...

...did not receive what was promised, since God had provided

something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV

It's true for all Believers...

there is something better...

something coming...

with His return...

which is better than anything we could have in this life...

So our psalmist's words on waiting today...

speak to my heart in a new way...

My soul is beginning to learn to wait... 

fully on the hope of His promises...

for as surely as the sun will rise...

He will return... bringing everything... 

more than everything...

we ever asked for or desired...

My soul waits for the Lord... more than watchmen for the morning...

wait on Him... Psalm 106:9-15...

He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,

and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

So he saved them from the hand of the foe

and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.

And the waters covered their adversaries;

not one of them was left.

Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.

But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,

and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked,

but sent a wasting disease among them.

Psalm 106:9-15 ESV

Yesterday... we saw one who waited well...

praising Him... waiting on Him...

even though feeling swept away by trouble...

Today our verses reveal how NOT to wait...

Forgetful waiting forgets His past faithfulness...

in showing up to rescue...

and lead through wilderness ways...

Forgetful waiting is tragic...

leads to craving... begging for what you want...

not for what God knows you need...

In His grace... if we persist...

He answers even the most destructive prayers...

but He sends along with it an emptiness...

a wasting disease...

because what we think we want...

when we've forgotten to wait for Him...

is what will destroy us...

The emptiness of what we desire...

may just turn our hearts back to Him...

and place us in just the right circumstances...

for us to begin waiting on Him...

Have you ever gotten what you most desired...? longed for...? but found it to be empty...?

Consider His grace in the midst...

cease forgetful waiting...

and begin again to wait on Him...

faith-fully...

wait on Him... Psalm 69...

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold;

I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.

I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched.

My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

Psalm 69:1-3 ESV

Psalm 69... begins with a cry for help...

a weary waiter... up to his neck in trouble...

The psalmist openly confesses his weariness to God...

his vision and hope waning...

as the psalm continues... he not only expounds on his complaint...

but reveals a right way in waiting...

Read the complete psalm for yourself...

I won't include it all here...

toward the end of the prayer...

after crying out for forgiveness and vengeance...

he turns his song to praise...

But I am afflicted and in pain;

let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

I will praise the name of God with a song;

I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox

or a bull with horns and hoofs.

Psalm 69:29-31 ESV

A right way of waiting...

pouring out your heart to God...

sharing your fears... anxiety... weakening faith...

voicing your desires to be saved... and your enemies punished...

yet remembering all the while...

who you are waiting on...

the One who deserves praise...

the only One who can save...

the only One worth waiting on...

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,

and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to brought

to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

1 Peter 1:13 NKJV

The Journey Readings: Week 143... and... the purpose of church...

[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated,

many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and

innumerable aspects might now be made known to the

angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers)

in the heavenly sphere.

Ephesians 3:10 Amp

God... in all His infinite wisdom... apparently appears foolish to the heavenly powers and authorities... for creating a world... and people... who rejected Him... and then killed His own Son...

But His purpose... from the beginning... was to reveal His wisdom to the naysayers and skeptics... in the heavenlies...

He reveals His complicated many-sided wisdom... in all its infinite variety... through the church by...

• blessing us with every spiritual blessing... (Ephesians 1:3)
• redeeming us through Jesus's blood... forgiving our trespasses... (Ephesians 1:7)
• making known to us the mystery of His will... to unite all things in Him... (Ephesians 1:9)
• making Jesus the head of the church... which is His body... the fullness of Him who fills all in all... (Ephesians 1:22-23)
• making us alive together with Christ... even when we were dead in our trespass... (Ephesians 2:5)
• seating us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus... (Ephesians 2:6)
• saving us by grace through faith... and not through our own works... (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• sending Christ to break down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile... which is the law... and making both one new man... (Ephesians 2:14-16)
• making us members of the household of God... (Ephesians 2:19)
• growing us into a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling place for God... (Ephesians 2:20)

So... I wonder... How are we doing as a church... revealing His great... infinite... wisdom to those unseen powers...?

I'm not sure we've made much of an impact in the world... much less the spiritual realm... but we are still unfinished...

His power and promises are great...
and I have no doubt... the ultimate punchline will come...
when Jesus returns... and the church... the true church... is revealed in all its glory...

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice

from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,

and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away

every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there

be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things

have passed away."

Revelation 21:2-4 ESV

But in the meantime...

walk in a manner worthy of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior...

reveal God's infinite multi-faceted wisdom to those in heaven and on earth...

This week's readings...
Monday                 Ephesians 5-6
Tuesday                 Philemon
Wednesday            Colossians 1-2
Thursday               Colossians 3-4
Friday                    Philippians 1

wait on Him... Psalm 62:5...

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5 ESV

The verses today... follow the ones from yesterday's post...

and it sounds as if the psalmist suffers waiting woes too...

Now we hear him preaching to his own soul...

O my soul... wait in silence...

The verses between yesterday's and today's... reveal ongoing affliction...

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

they take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse.

Psalm 62:3-4 ESV

The psalmist waits... hopes... in God...

to bring justice... overcome evil... free from oppression...

all the while encouraging his soul... wait in silence...

The Hebrew translated as silence doesn't only mean be quiet...

but also... to cease activity... rest... (Dictionary of Biblical Languages)

How often... when injustice seems to prevail... do we get busy taking things in our own hands... trying to make things right ourselves...?

When we won't wait... rest... be still... in the difficulty...

we reveal a lack of trust... an unbelief... in God... who says He defends... and calls us to something different...

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,

for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing

you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not overcome evil by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:19-21 ESV

Be silent... trust... rest... wait for Him...

He is faithful...

He will take care of things perfectly...

all in His time... 

wait on Him... Psalm 62:1-2...

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2 ESV

I pray this psalmist's song...

would be mine too...

My soul is not very good at waiting in silence...

it stirs... wonders... and sometimes doubts...

When will the waiting be done...? will what I desire ever come...?

To wait on Him...

who is the Rock... Salvation... and Fortress...

should assure a soul... it will never be greatly shaken...

but I'm not sure my faith is to this point yet...

What the psalmist sings...

I'll make my prayer...

Lord... may my soul wait on You in silence...

trusting Your great faithfulness...

confident of Your work...

for my good...

and Your glory...

Amen...

wait on Him...

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good,

in the presence of the godly.

Psalm 52:9 ESV

On an evening when I'm waiting for Him to make a new way...

I thank Him in advance... based on all He's done before...

Because He has done it... so many times before...

His faithfulness... unfailing...

I thank Him forever... and wait on Him...

His character is good...

and He will do it...!

Hallelujah...!

He has done it...!

Amen...!!!

wait on Him... Psalm 40:1-3...

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1 ESV

Waiting patiently for the Lord... when it comes to our prayers... assures... He will lean down... and hear...

Waiting implies expectation of being heard...

of being noticed...

of receiving what we are waiting for...

But if we become impatient... tired... fed up...

we become hopeless... or just plain mad...

we leave...

How many times have you given up on waiting...?

in a doctor's office...?

on hold...?

in a line...?

When we give up the waiting...

we are assured we will NOT get what we were waiting for...

It is the patient waiter who is rewarded...

the one patient in waiting who receives what they have waited for...

I waited patiently for the Lord...

He inclined to me and heard my cry...

Don't give up your prayer...

never stop waiting on Him...

He is trustworthy...

He will hear...

He will respond to your patient waiting...

wait on Him... Psalm 37:5-7...

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

Psalm 37:5-7 ESV

Committing your way to the Lord's Way...

can seem like the long way around...

His Way requires patience...

steadfastness... forbearance...

and integrity...

Those who follow His Way...

commit their lives to it...

look like fools to the world...

Following tax code to the letter of the law...

returning too much change...

humbly yielding to others...

telling the truth to your own detriment...

taking responsibility for your actions...

The world has its own wisdom...

get ahead no matter the cost...

look out for number one...

pay back is hell...

what they don't know won't hurt 'em...

James describes it this way...

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct

let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,

do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that 

comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be

disorder and every vile practice.

James 3:13-16 ESV

When you're tempted to do things the world's way...

because it looks like the only way to get ahead...

remember... be still before the Lord...

wait patiently on Him...

For those committed to His Way...

will shine bright one day...

their righteousness and just actions...

cutting right through the darkness...

like the noonday sun...

His Way is the best...

His foolishness wiser than the wisest worldly wisdom...

and it is always... worth... the... wait...

The Journey Readings: Week 142... and gospel basics...

Romans... the book of gospel basics...

The Roman church was not founded by Paul...
he desperately wanted to visit...
but the time had not yet come...

Since he couldn't visit... he wrote a letter...
and I believe we see in this letter...
what Paul taught... regarding the gospel...
at every church he ever founded...

Because he didn't establish this church...
and couldn't visit them personally...
he wrote a detailed letter of gospel basics...
speaking to both Jews and Gentiles... who made up this congregation...

It's a book worth spending some time in...
Paul teaches on the power of the law... vs the power of the Spirit...
God's work in sending Jesus to fulfill the law... made the way for righteousness...
something we were wholly unable to do...

Paul teaches about the faith required to be saved...
it's not about the flesh... your birth lineage...
but about your faith... your spiritual lineage...
it's about God's grace... mercy...

In Christ we are set free from the law of sin and death...
to live by the law of the Spirit of life...
and Paul provides ample instruction for what that looks like...

But the fuel that is to fire us up is the Holy Spirit...
and the verse which caught my attention this week...
reading in the Amplified... is found in chapter 12...

Never lag in zeal and earnest endeavor;

be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11 Amp

Because we are free from the law... we no longer have a check list to follow... making sure we are walking the straight and narrow...

Instead... we have His Holy Spirit living in us... to direct us and guide us... a little trickier than a list of do's and don't's... but that is what we're called to do in Christ Jesus... follow Him...

And to do this we need to keep the Spirit burning in us... and serving the Lord...

My prayer for myself this week... 

Father God... keep me aglow and burning with the Spirit...

that I may serve my Lord Jesus wholeheartedly...

and with zeal...

Make it your prayer too...

This week's readings...

Monday            Romans 14:1 - 15:13

Tuesday            Romans 15:14 - 16:27

Wednesday       Ephesians 1

Thursday           Ephesians 2-3

Friday               Ephesians 4

wait on him... Psalm 33:20-21...

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

Psalm 33:20-21 ESV

Because He is our help and shield in the waiting...
our hearts are glad Him...
because we trust Him...

While we wait for Him...
to fulfill His promise...
work good from evil...
return to make things right...
we do so with joy...
because He is trustworthy...
He helps us along the way...
He shields us from so much...
most of it unknown to us...

And I wonder at the fear that overtakes my heart...
when the young man on the phone asks... Do you have any other questions for me...?
and His Spirit says... Ask Him if He knows Jesus...
and even though this young man is in Canada...
my heart clenches... the question goes unasked...
instead I end the call with... May the Lord bless you and keep you...

Wimped out...
I totally wimped out...

Conviction now clenches my heart instead of fear of man...

My unbelief and doubt in the waiting still so great...!

I'm such a bad waiter...
not serving the Lord well...
because I don't believe He is my help... my shield...

Lord... forgive me... I've failed again...

Thank You for your grace... Let me not forget Your conviction...

Bless me with another opportunity... and fearless faith...

wait on Him... Psalm 31:23-24...

Love the Lord, all you saints!

The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays

the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord!

Psalm 31:23-24 ESV

Love the Lord... all you followers of Jesus...

only in Him... can we be called saints...

He is our Lord... so serve Him wholeheartedly...

obey Him... for this is love for Him...

Loving God means keeping his commandments,

and his commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 5:3 NLT

Those who love Him... who faithfully obey...

He preserves... protects...

but those who act in pride... following their own way...

will not fare so well...

I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;

I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,

and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Isaiah 13:11  ESV

Those who wait on Him...

can take courage... be strong... in the wait...

He is faithful to those who are faithful...

He is just... and will keep His promises...

Wait on Him... 

Love Him...

He will come through...

wait on Him... Psalm 25:21...

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for you.

Psalm 25:21 ESV

When we wait... hope in... expect... the Lord...

we do so with integrity... innocence... simplicity...

uprightness... straightness... doing what is right...

Waiting on Him... revolves around doing things His way...

not the world's way...

Even if it looks like the crooked way is the only way to win...

it's not...

If it looks like those who take shortcuts leave you in the dust...

they aren't...

The only way to preserve... guard... keep safe... your life...

is to wait on Him... His Way...

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9 ESV

Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 ESV

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

Proverbs 28:18 ESV

wait on Him... Psalm 25:4-5...

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:4-5 ESV

The God of our salvation...

He is the One worth waiting on...

He makes known His ways... 

teaches His paths...

leads us in truth...

Wait on Him...

with a teachable heart...

and you won't be led astray...

wait on Him... Psalm 25:1-2...

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Psalm 25:1-2 ESV

A psalm of David... who knew what it was to have enemies...

King Saul chased him... out of jealousy...

the Philistines despised him for killing their champion...

the Amalekites raided his camp... kidnapped his family...

his own son tried to dethrone him...

David knew what it was to have enemies...

both inside his own walls... and out...

In all the attacks he faced... he trusted the Lord...

lifted up his soul to the Lord...

did things His Way...

David knew what it was to wait on the Lord...

for years he ran from Saul before he received the throne he'd been anointed for...

David knew from experience...

those who wait on the Lord... hope in Him... trust Him...

will not be put to shame... they will not be disappointed...

David had opportunities to take things into his own hands...

twice he could have taken Saul's life...

but he chose to wait on... hope in... trust the Lord...

When we wait on Him in the same way...

we will not be put to shame by our enemy...

Now you may think you have no enemies...

no one trying to kill you... undermine you... deceive you...

but that just wouldn't be accurate...

All Believers have an enemy prowling...

waiting to leap... devour...

only the attack isn't physical... it's spiritual...

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,

seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Our adversary accuses...

you're not loved...

you're not forgiven...

you are worthless...

you are guilty... beyond saving...

The lies of the enemy attack our hearts...

leave us paralyzed...

filled with doubt and fear...

shamed...

But when we lift up our souls to the Lord...

trust Him... take Him at His Word...

believe Truth rather than lies...

and wait...

we will see the day when the enemy is shamed...

not us...

Remember our enemy is not flesh and blood...

and wait on the Lord...

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

The Journey Readings: Week 141... and... grace... a matter of the heart...

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly,

nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew

is one inwardly, and circumcision a matter of the heart,

by the Spirit, not the letter.

Romans 2:28-29 ESV

God's grace... the gift which saves...

unless it works its way to the heart...
it hasn't been received...

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,

but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:6 ESV

Jesus made the Way... for the Holy Spirit to come... and circumcise our hearts...

without this grace in our hearts... our outward deeds... abilities... don't matter...

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,

I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers,

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith,

so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,

but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV

God is Love...

the Spirit is God...

and without Love...

nothing matters...

Has grace worked its way into your heart...?

This week's readings...
Monday                   Romans 7    
Tuesday                   Romans 8
Wednesday              Romans 9:1 - 10:4
Thursday                 Romans 10:5 - 11:36
Friday                      Romans 12-13

wait on Him... Isaiah 40:28-31...

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might

he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord

shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV

The Lord... the One on whom we wait... He is everlasting...!

The One who created NEVER tires... NEVER misunderstands...

Not only can we trust in Him... lean on Him... when we have no strength...

He renews our strength... shares His strength with those who are weary...

when we wait on Him... hope in Him... expect Him to act...

Me... I needed Him today...

news of the broken hard drive on the laptop...

nearly made me faint...

the writing... the studies... the ministries...

But I chose to wait on Him...

remembered it was all His any way... to do with what He will...

sang a song of praise...

and waited... expectantly... for Him...

Strength was renewed...

the pity party didn't last too long...

So if you need strength... for whatever you face today...

wait on Him...

and you will rise up...

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wait on Him... Psalm 27:14...

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 ESV

wait... to stay in place in expectation of: await... to remain stationary in readiness or expectation...

---Merriam-Webster.com

Wait... we wait with expectation of something...
waiting in a doctor's office...
waiting in line for the barista...
waiting for a loved one to arrive...
waiting to go out for the evening...

We wait because something is going to happen...
something is coming... and we are ready...

Sometimes the wait is longer than expected...
sometimes we become discouraged and give up... leave...
sometimes... it seems like nothing is going to happen...

So when the wait is long...
moving our eyes to the Lord...
gives strength...
encouragement of heart...
helps us endure...
when we don't the exact arrival time...

I'm doing some waiting today...
waiting to see how it will all get done...
waiting to get my mishap made right...
and it feels a little overwhelming...
because I can't see how it can all happen...

But when I remember... I'm waiting on Him...
the One who wouldn't call me to do something and not make the way...
the One who knows what's next and how it will all fit in...
the One who is my Shepherd who will not leave me wanting...
and remember He is the Sovereign One...
who works out all things...
for the good of those who love Him...
who are called according to His purpose...

Then... my heart stills... expectation rises... and wonder creeps in...

Wait... expect Him to move...
He will...
with just what you need...

lean on Him... leads to... wait on Him...

The days and weeks in His Word...
seeking to lean on Him...
have led to a new insight...
a new revelation...

An idea... understanding... I had in my head...
but my eyes were in the wrong place...

You see... I've been waiting on specific changes in the lives of loved ones for a long time... we're talking years...

Waiting on them to change...

This waiting... even though I knew God had to be behind it all... in it all... caused me at times to be impatient... frustrated... with those I long to change...

And I know... knew... only God makes things grow...
only He transforms... the old... into new creations...
but I've kept my eyes on the ones I long to see change...
looking for signs... waiting... hoping... on them...

But what I realized... in this leaning my mind... imagination... toward trusting Him... was that in all the promises... change... I desire... I'm really waiting on Him...!

He's the One who works in hearts...
opens eyes... brings light...

He's the One... I'm waiting on...

And to wait on Him...
is a totally different perspective...

To wait on Him...
is to trust the One who is able...
the One who knows...
the One with perfect timing...
the One who loves my loved ones more than me...

To wait on Him...
keeps my eyes on Him...
and off those whose seemingly unchanged lives...
cause frustration...

When we become frustrated with the ones for whom we pray...
it changes our attitude toward them...
and we become a stumbling block to the change we want to see...

But when we wait on God...
and become frustrated with Him...
He can take it...
and He takes it and changes our hearts...
opens our eyes... lovingly...
to His love for us...

Trusting and waiting...
inextricably intertwined...

Grateful for the shift of perspective...
this heart change...
so guess what comes next...?

I'm feeling a series...
another seeking...
of what it means to...
wait on Him...

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Psalm 123:1-2 ESV

lean on Him... Jeremiah 17:7-8...

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 7:7-8 ESV

The blessing of the one who trusts in the Lord is evident...
like a tree planted near a stream...
an ever-present supply of living water...

"...Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" ---Jesus

John 7:38 ESV

Trusting in the Lord... believing in Him... leaning on Him...

has its benefits...

no fear from heat... or drought...

always fresh... alive... green...

no worry... because He makes the way for fruit to grow...

Are you planted near Him...? trusting in Him...?

Do you sense the blessings...? carefree attitude...? He promises...?

This is the last lean on Him... in this series...

and this is one of my favorite reminders... to trust in Him... 

blessed... like a tree planted by water...

Life abundant...

fruitful for Him...

when everyone else might be wasting a way...

Learn to lean on Him... trust in Him...

because this is life... rest... peace... hope...

Lean on Him... Isaiah 50:10...

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant?

Let him who walks in darkness and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

Isaiah 50:10 ESV

Trusting in Him... primarily happens... when we realize... we can't trust in ourselves...

Finally understanding we have absolutely no light of our own... 

makes us realize we need help...

When we get tired of stumbling around in the dark...

when we've run into one wall too many...

or one more pit too deep...

we wise up...

We begin to cry out to God...

fear... revere Him as we should...

And fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...

and realizing we have no light in and of ourselves...

causes us to lean on Him... trust Him...

cry out to Him... and obey Him...

Without Him we walk in darkness...

trust Him... rely on Him... lean heavily upon Him...

The Journey Readings: Week 140... and His ambassadors...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself

and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ

God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their

trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message

of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ,

God making his appeal through us. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ESV

Ambassadors... Believers are His ambassadors... to the world...

An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a highest ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state, or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.

---Wikipedia 

An official envoy... high ranking diplomat...

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the

excellencies of him who called you out of darkness

into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

representing a sovereign state... 

But our citizenship is in heaven...

Philippians 3:20 ESV

on a temporary basis...

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home

is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house

not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV

God did the work through Christ Jesus to reconcile the world to Himself...

as His ambassadors... it is our role... duty... privilege... to be ministers of reconciliation...

We are the ones He has appointed to share this good news with those whom He intended...

and that would be everyone...

In Christ... we are here on a temporary basis...

foreigners of Light... in a dark land...

to impart understanding and knowledge...

of the redeeming work of God...

so others might know and see...

This is a weighty matter... important work...

and all Believers have the same responsibility and rank...

when it comes to being ambassadors...

How are you doing...? when it comes to the ministry of reconciliation...? introducing Jesus to those who are lost...?

In Him... we are new creations...

ambassadors of His Kingdom...

Find out more about who you are in Him... join The Journey...

This week's readings...
Monday             2 Corinthians 12-13
Tuesday             Romans 1
Wednesday        Romans 2:1 - 3:8
Thursday           Romans 3:9 - 4:25
Friday                Romans 5-6

lean on Him... Isaiah 26:4...

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:4 ESV

There is nothing more sure... in which to place our trust... than in Him... the Everlasting Rock...

He will never fail us...

He will never tire...

He will never pass away...

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Psalm 102:25-27 ESV

His Word always sure...

His promises faithful...

His strength unfailing...

His wisdom and knowledge perfect...

How long can you trust Him...?

Forever...!

What can you trust Him with...?

Everything...!

Who or what...? are you trusting...?

lean on Him... Isaiah 26:3...

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you. 

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

The one who trusts Him...

has a mind stayed on Him...

The Hebrew translated... stayed... means... "to lean upon"... (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament)

What does it look like to have a mind... leaned upon Him...?

Thoughts always leaning toward Him...

not toward worry...

not toward fear...

but to the One who is Sovereign...

the One who is Good...

the One who loves you...

"...For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10 ESV

Those who trust Him...

lean their thoughts toward Him...

and reap the benefit of peace...

Not just any peace...

but perfect peace...

The Hebrew reads...

shalom shalom...

double peace...

wholeness of your wholeness...

all things set right...

all things secure and sound...

peace...

Where are your thoughts stayed...? leaning...?

What results from your thoughts...?

Trust Him...

lean your thoughts... mind... imagination...

toward Him...

and know... peace... peace...

Amen...