wait on Him... Hosea 12:6...

"So you, by the help of your God, return,

hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God."

Hosea 12:6 ESV

The prophet Hosea... gave a word from God... to Jacob...

Jacob... who in the womb... took his elder brother's heel... vied for a position of authority...

Jacob... who strove with God... whose name was changed to Israel... God-wrestler...

Jacob... who prevailed over the angel... then wept... and sought a blessing...

A message not only for rebellious Jacob... Israel...

but for all His people...

Only with God's help... can we return... repent...

He alone turns our hearts toward Him... 

blesses us with conviction... 

and faith to receive...

We cannot clean ourselves up... and come to God in presentable fashion...

we need His help... His strength... to limp our way back to Him...

On our returning... repentance...

we hold fast... keep... give heed... to love and justice...

compassion and mercy...

and wait continually... eagerly... for God...

to save...

to bless...

to restore...

A heart of hopeful waiting...

depends on Him...

to help us return...

By His help we return...

to love... justice... hope...

words for the end of a day...

As I come to the end of a day...
feeling... tired...
words from a morning's devotional come to mind...

"Help, Lord." --- Psalm 12:1

David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication; when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of the truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing.

---Oswald Chambers, Morning and Evening

I mourn... at the fewness of strength...
cry... Help... Lord...
and exert myself...
to complete the final chores of the day...

In the spiritual realm...
the making of dinner...
the cleaning of a kitchen...
can be a battle field...

I choose to serve... my family...
but I know... I need His help...

So my words for the end of the day...?

Help... Lord...

For I can do everything through Christ,

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 NLT 

a needed reminder...

"But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.

This is what the Lord says --- he who made you,

who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:

Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshrun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit

on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, 

'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob;

still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,'

and will take the name Israel. ..."

Isaiah 44:1-5

Words received... unexpectedly... from a sister in Christ...

Words I needed to hear... read again... and again...

in the midst of doubt... discouragement... uncertainty...

...listen... my servant... whom I have chosen...

This is what the Lord says --- he who made you...

and who will help you: Do not be afraid...

Encouraging words...

reminders that I am His...

a chosen servant...

whom He will help...

I take His Word literally... 

...still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's'...

A reminder of Whose I am...

I need not be afraid...

He will help me...

when facing a full day...

When facing a full day... do it with joy...

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

Trusting His help...

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:2 ESV

Relying on His strength...

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14 ESV

Thank You... Lord... for this day...

Your help... Your strength...

all reasons to rejoice...!

God reminds... instantly...

Frustrations with a loved one... one on whom I'm to pour out grace... but after weeks... months... there appears no visible change...

Driving out of the driveway... I yell a prayer to God...

I just want to beat him...

Will You wake him up...

The car radio on... as usual... and as soon as my tirade is complete... I hear...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

An instant reminder... for a frustrated... angry... impatient... mom... a Word from Him... Philippians 4:4-7...

God... He knows what you need to hear... and will not waste any time... an instant reminder... the welling tears... the hard frown... replaced with a smile...

Yes... the Lord is near...

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 ESV

blessed by His faithfulness

Today... God's faithfulness... again... just blows me away...

My vision filled with failures... to use my time wisely... to exercise self-discipline... feeling a living breathing picture of... the spirit is willing, but the body is weak... pressure of time... trying to crush...

But in His mercy... in His grace... He provides what's needed... beyond expectation...

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

the Maker of heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them ---

the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

Psalm 146:5-6

a full day

Prayer...
prep...
fellowship...
teaching... with thanks...
back home... with joy...
and all the ordinary...

A full day with...
family...
friends...
and Help...
recognizing His hand throughout the fullness of the day...

Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my life. 

...

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;

I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Psalm 54:4, 6

ESV

(my emphasis)