wait on Him... Lamentations 3:25-26...

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV

Wait is found twice in today's passage...

I ventured to see if they were the same in Hebrew...

they were not...

The first wait...

hope in... hope for...

look forward with confidence to that which is good...

(Dictionary of Biblical Languages)

The second wait...

staying or continuing in the same state or position...

(Dictionary of Biblical Languages)

The Lord is good to those...

who expect Him to be good...

to the soul who seeks Him...

To the faithful you show yourself faithful...

Psalm 18:25 NIV

Those who understand the goodness of God...

wait for it...

and receive it...

It is good... to wait...

staying in the same state of expectation... hope...

waiting quietly... for His salvation...

Wait well... for His goodness...

persevere in the wait...

He shall show up...

for your good...

He is faithful to His Word...

What are you waiting for...? are you expecting His goodness...?

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 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... 

lean on Him... Psalm 37:1-4...

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not envious of wrongdoers!

For they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:-4 ESV

Sometimes... we fret... get all stirred up... over evildoers...

who appear to be getting away with murder...!

We wonder why they don't get caught...

why they are allowed to prosper at the expense of others...

His Word tells us... Don't do it...

don't get all bent out of shape... or envious... of those who do wrong...

they will get what they deserve in the end...

He will see to it...

like grass... they will simply fade... wither...

they will be no more...

Trusting in the Lord... we are to continue to do good...

lean on Him... faithfully...

no matter what others are getting away with around us...

We are to befriend faithfulness...

delight ourselves in the Lord... and His ways...

because when we do...

He will give us what we truly desire...

And what we truly desire is what lasts forever...

not the things of this world that pass away...

Trust in the Lord...

lean on Him...

be blessed with the true desires of your heart...

blessed with a good... good... Father...

After a rough yesterday... a blessed today...
blessed with a good... good... Father...
the chorus of the song... my waking thought...

You're a good good Father

It's who You are

It's who You are

It's who You are

And I'm loved by You

It's who I am

It's who I am

It's who I am

Yesterday's struggle with words...

anxiety...

fear of failure...

temptation to quit...

grumpiness...

made me wonder what He thought of me...

Was I a disappointment...? a dis-grace...? 

to what He's taught me...? to what I'm teaching...?

Then today... a better day...

a day of trust... peace... space even...

to sit with the writing sister...

with no need to talk of Sister Talk...

And I saw it... His perspective as a parent... far different than ours...

My frustration comes from not knowing how long my children will struggle... not knowing how long it will take them to learn... to grow... to be who He calls them to be...

But God... from His eternal perspective...

saw yesterday... while He also saw today...

and knew He would wake me with song...

He does not consider how He feels about me based on how I act today... He already sees what I will become in Jesus... what I will grow into...

He loves... 

while He watches His children struggle...

growing into new graces...

and knows... tomorrow will be different...

And Yes... I know tomorrow will be different...

and my struggles are not over...

but I know... I have a good... good... Father...

and I am loved... loved... loved... by Him...

not because of where I am spiritually... or what I do...

but because of who I am in Him...

There's a freedom here...

a freedom from fear of disappointing...

the freedom of receiving His love...

even when I doubt and stand on the brink of tantrum...

It even gives me freedom with my own children...

to give space... and time...

for Him to work in them...

Blessed with a good... good... Father...

Amen... Amen...

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praise the Lord... it's good for the soul...

I give thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

before the gods I sing your praise...

Psalm 138:1 ESV

Before the god of perfection...

who makes me feel inept...

I sing Your praise...

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly...

Psalm 138:6 ESV

Before the god of success...

who makes me feel like a failure...

I sing YOUR praise...!

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life...

Psalm 138:7a ESV

Before the god of ease...

who makes me feel uneasy...

I SING YOUR PRAISE...!

...you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

Psalm 138:7b ESV

Before the gods of this world... who lie...

who steal my peace...

I sing Your praise...!

Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Psalm 147:1 ESV

He's behind it all... [from October 27, 2013...]

If things look gray... dark...
remember... He is behind it...

Who can speak and have it happen

if the Lord has not decreed it?

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:36-37

He may allow... darkness for a time...
but in Him... there is no darkness at all...

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.

Lamentations 3:32-33

Trust His presence... even if it seems unseen...

He is good... and all He does... is good...

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

to Him... darkness is not dark...

A dramatic reading of a psalm in worship... reminds... to Him... darkness is not dark...

...even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:12 ESV

...darkness is not dark to You...

When darkness closes in on our lives... we feel alone... oppressed... overwhelmed...

Yet... the darkness is not dark to Him... He sees through it... and in His Sovereignty... turns it to light...

...darkness is as light with You...

With You... Lord... darkness is as light...

You were with Joseph... and at the end of his ordeal... he said to his brothers... who threw him into darkness...

"... As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,

to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, 

as they are today. ..."

Genesis 50:20 ESV

You only allow what You intend... for good... and the saving of many lives...

Help me to remain with You... whenever darkness presses in... no matter what form it takes...

Remind me... darkness... is... as... light... with... You...

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

accepting... by faith...

This morning... a series of  decisions... seemed to be good...

Until... they seemed to cause trouble...

Left wondering... if the decisions were bad...? made without seeking Him...?

Or was something else at play...?

Peace only found... in trusting His Sovereignty... and grace...

Accepting... by faith... each outcome... and His purpose...

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

He's behind it all...

If things look gray... dark...
remember... He is behind it...

Who can speak and have it happen

if the Lord has not decreed it?

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:36-37

He may allow... darkness for a time...
but in Him... there is no darkness at all...

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to the children of men.

Lamentations 3:32-33

Trust His presence... even if it seems unseen...

He is good... and all He does... is good...

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

it's hard... to watch others heal...

Healing... it can be a painful process...

A broken bone left to rest a few days begins to feel comfortable... but not useful...

Surgery... makes the way for healing... cuts... inflames... re-wounds... to put things right...

It's the same for a soul... I think...

Spiritual wounds not treated properly... leave scars... and a soul ill-prepared for life...

The Physician... He comes and does spiritual surgery... re-wounding... cutting... with the consequences... of sin... disappointment...

Repentance... the only way... for true healing...

A hard process to watch...

Must continually be reminded... it is for the best... it's all good...

Some became fools through their rebellious ways

and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He sent forth his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.

Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Psalm 107:17-22

the present challenge

Receiving... everything... presented... as a present... a gift...

The importance of thought-life... has been recurrent... what we think... how we perceive... events... people... circumstances... in our minds... effects our faith... peace... heart...

A current read... a gift... focuses totally on thought-life...

Jesus gave us His peace (see John 14:27), but He said we must not allow ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and unsettled. In other words, peace is present in us, but it must be chosen over what our fleshly mind thinks. We can choose to be peaceful by choosing to think on thing that promote peace rather than things that open a door for worry and anxiety.

---Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind 

A devotional... read this morning... encouraging right perceptions... of Him...

You are My beloved. Although you experience many difficulties in your life, I shield you all day long. You cannot imagine what your life would be like if I were not protecting you continually. The adversity I do allow you to experience is ultimately for your good and My Glory. You can rest secure by trusting that My protective Presence is with you always, no matter what trials you may be enduring.

---Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young

Knowing Him... as the Great I AM... the purely present God... the One Sovereign over all... nothing happens except what He allows...

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:38

And He is good... only good...

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

So the challenge... to train the mind... receive everything presented... by Him... as a present....

feeling finite...

A full day... at the beginning of a full week... reminds me that I am finite...

Feeling empty... and keenly aware... of every inadequacy...

I said to the Lord,

"You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing."

Psalm 16:2

Father God... You are my good...

a garden reminder...

Yesterday... I spent time in a garden...

where I was reminded... that God... created... us... to work... a garden...

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden

to work it and take care of it.

Genesis 2:15

A creation... deemed... good... in its beauty... and... diversity...

Even the trials... in this garden... the plants tested... for future plantings... are spectacular...

The beauty... of this broken world... a reminder... that God's good... far outweighs... the bad... 

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3