I was making my coffee this morning using one of those portable, pour over tools…you know what I mean, right? It makes one cup at a time. The process is slow and steady. During my wait I was rocking and swaying from side to side. Likely due in part from the comfort of the rhythm but let’s face it…also due to impatience and anticipation of what is to come…
A WARM CUP OF JOE!
As I rocked and waited I was struck by the similarities of waiting-for-the-pour-over and waiting-for-answers-from-God. The waiting from God is not only for “answers”, specifically, but also for His direction, wisdom, confirmation, healing, discernment, or a host of other responses from our Lord.
Yet, I know that patience and confidence while waiting is not always my posture. I am fighting the desire to do-it-on-my-own, to make-my-own decision based on my limited knowledge and understanding. I am pushing back against Satan and his minions who lie to me and deceive me in thinking that my way and my timing is better than God’s way and God’s timing. I am swaying and rocking in my anticipation of God’s response. I struggle to slow down and wait to hear His still, soft voice. All the while knowing that His direction and path for me will ultimately warm and soothe my soul like a fresh, warm cup of coffee which comforts me on a chilly morning…if I just wait for Him.
Just like when we rush our pour-over coffee and end up with a watered-down, disappointing cup of joe, when we rush into decisions without waiting on God’s guidance and discernment through the Holy Spirit, we may face unexpected disappointment and trials. The WAIT is worth it, Friends! God often has a reason for the wait. It may be that He has something better for us that is still developing…still brewing. The wait is necessary for a rich, robust, and fulfilling result!
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for waiting on me…for not giving up on me. You desire to show me, and all Your creation, Your deep love and compassion. Thank you, Jesus, for your patience and faithfulness as You wait on us to turn to You. Lord, help me to trust You, to wait on You, and to recognize Your voice. You know what’s best for me. Help me to let go of my own control, pride, and desire for attention and recognition. I am Yours and You are mine. I choose to wait for You in all I do. Help me to be faithful to You. Help me to trust You patiently and confidently in the wait. Amen.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What are you currently waiting on?
Are you struggling in the midst of the wait?
How are you struggling and what is the result of that struggle?
What is the next step you may take to be obedient to God in the wait?
Thank You, Lord, for Your boundless love for me. You promise me in this verse that my ultimate source of HOPE & ENCOURAGMENT is from You through Your grace. Help me to remember this promise always. And help me to live into the HOPE that only You can provide, rather than putting my hope in the things of this world that will only lead to disappointment.
Your HOPE is not fickle or fake; it is not limited or dwindling. Your HOPE is filled with Your deep love for me; filled with the promise of eternal life with You, as a result of the death and resurrection of Your one and only son Jesus on my behalf. Your HOPE reminds me that I am free from the chains of my sin through Your forgiving mercy and grace. Your HOPE gives me comfort and encouragement knowing that I am seen, known, and worthy as Your created child. Your HOPE promises that I am never alone through the mountains and valleys of my life. Your HOPE is true…lovely…reliable…steady.
You, Lord, are my Guide and source of strength. You, Lord, are my Provider and Leader. You, Lord, are my Savior, Comforter, and HOPE-giver! Amen and Thank you, Jesus.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Where have you placed your hope in the past besides our God?
What were the results?
Did you find these sources to be reliable and trustworthy? Why or why not?
What are the changes you are able to make in your life to move your hope to Jesus and the One True God?
Abba, Father, You are LOVE. And through that love you are full of mercy and grace for your creation – mankind. Lord, You gave me the freedom to choose You and obey You OR I may choose to follow someone or something else. Serving someone else may be serving myself – chasing what I think will make me happy, doing what I want to do when I want to do it. Or, I may choose to serve other idols by trying to find something, buy something, or do something to make me happy, prove my worth, or earn my way through good deeds.
Lord, thank you for this clear message that I am saved by YOUR mercy and grace…only. I am broken and I am a sinful being. There is NOTHING I can do to earn my way into a perfect eternity with you when I am an imperfect being on my own. I have nothing to brag about. Yet my present and my future are not lost because when I choose You and Your Son as my Savior, then Your grace, mercy and forgiveness saves me.
Lord, help me remember that my salvation is in You. My path to eternity with you is my CHOICE. It is my choice to follow you and accept Your Son, Jesus, as my Messiah and Savior. The sacrifice of His life on the cross, the blood He shed for me and my sin, and the glorious rising from death to conquer sin for ALL, forever, is the way to eternity. Jesus is my Way to eternity. Jesus is the path to complete wholeness. Jesus is my joy.
Last night my Dear Hubby and I were talking about my latest doctor’s appointment on 9/18/2023 and my ongoing maladies:
autoimmune disease that we are still working to control after 2-3 years of symptoms,
ongoing insomnia issues,
five years, and counting, of menopause symptoms,
side effects of medications,
side effects from autoimmune symptoms,
fatigue, stress/anxiety, and general malaise, at times.
My Hubby mentioned that my current struggles remind him of the story of Job…How God permitted Satan to bring trials to Job’s life as a testament to Job’s righteousness as a faithful servant. Job experienced personal and financial loss, illness, suffering and even rejection from his remaining family and friends as a result of the Enemy’s plagues against him. Yet in the midst of those trials, Job remained faithful to God. Even when he wife challenged him and his decision to continue to submit to God, he remained faithful and shared his heart with her.
His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He [Job] replied, “You are talking like a foolish[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job’s friends challenged him…even blamed him…that he had to have done something wrong to be in the situation of struggle that he was facing. Job continued to argue his case that he was not to blame; yet he did not know why this was happening to him. In all of this, Job did not just talk about God with his friends and his wife. He also cried out toGod with his struggles and confusion.
Job’s words and actions have also brought me words of HOPE and JOY. Job has reminded me that my God and Father cares for me. He knows my limitations and He desires to strengthen me and my relationship with him through and due to my trials. I must go through these situations for growth and renewed closeness to my Savior.
In summary, some of the LESSONS I learned from the Book of Job are the following:
I am able to love God and remain faithful to him while lamenting my losses and burdens.
God is big enough to handle my honesty and my laments. (Plus…He already knows them anyway.)
I am able to pray to God about all my fears and doubts.
God will never leave me and he protects me in my trials.
Even in the midst of the most devastating trials, I may still put my hope and joy in the Lord.
God is in control of all things.
My trials have the ability to draw me closer to my Savior.
Unlike Job’s wife and friends, my Hubby has supported, encouraged and cared for me through my health journey. He has protected me when I have struggled to set boundaries. He has provided countless foot rubs when I need to relax and rest. He has gifted me with little (and not so little) surprises to help bring me joy and community with those I love. Thank you, Pat, for your care, compassion and love. You are a gift from God to me.
I hope and pray the story of Job brings you comfort and hope in the midst of your trials, too, my Friends. Bless you this day and every day!
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for your faithfulness to us. Thank you for the promise to never leave us, the promise to never burden us with more than we can bare, and the promise to love us and build us up during and through our trials. Our hope is in you, Jesus. You have sacrificed your life to save ours. Thank you for your unconditional love. Amen.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What is your current trial or trials?
Who are you leaning on…yourself or your Savior?
Have you been honest with yourself and with Jesus about your fears, your concerns and your frustrations?
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
~Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
PRAYING SCRIPTURE:
Abba Father. What does it mean to “delight myself” in You? When I am delighted in other things or other people, I want to be with them, learn more about them. I want to comfort and encourage the person with whom I am delighted as well as be comforted and encouraged by them.
This is also true for me when I think about being delighted in You…When I delight in you, I want:
To spend time with You… time in prayer, worship and praise.
To spend time in your Word… learning who you are.
To have community with You all day.
To spend quiet moments in solitude to ponder your promises.
To celebrate Your presence in my life.
To lift my voice in song to You, Lord.
To journal, meditate on and remember all the ways You have revealed Yourself in my life.
To express my gratitude for Your love and sacrifice.
To express my gratitude for who You are
To express gratitude for answered prayers whether the answer was YES, NO, or WAIT.
To extend to others the same love, service and forgiveness you have shown me.
Lord, when I think about the 2nd half of this verse… “He will give you the desires of your heart”… help me remember that this does NOT mean You will give me anything I want. But it does mean that when I do “delight myself in the Lord”…in YOU…my desires will be transformed and realigned with your desires. I will want to share of your redemption and restoration for humanity through Your healing power, Your great love, Your generous forgiveness and Your servant’s heart with those around me and around the world. I will want to be more like You in my thoughts, words, generosity, forgiveness and service. When I respond to You and Your will, You will be faithful to complete a good work through me. Amen and Thank You, Jesus!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
~Romans 8:28
PRAYING SCRIPTURE:
Lord, You know me so well! You know all my strengths, weaknesses, gifts and hang-ups. You know this because You created me. You molded me like clay in the Potter’s hand. You shaped, carved, and perfected me with Your own hands and from Your own image. It makes me wonder in awe how You do that for each of us and every being You created is unique and gifted and planned for purpose. With so many people in the past, so many living, and so many yet to come, You are creating and creating and creating. While at the same time, You hear our prayers and watch over all of us. You promise to never leave us. Amazing! You are a mighty and powerful God.
Lord, as apostle Paul wrote to us in Romans, “…all things work for Your good.” You are in CONTROL, Lord. I am living a lie if I think I have control. My trust is in You. You have a grand plan for Your creation and a specific plan for each of us. Even when I make the wrong choice You are able to work it out for Your good and the good of Your creation. You are able and willing to redeem our stories. Thank You, Lord, for Your guiding hand in my life. Amen.
Recent Comments