Prayer: Father, You have all the time in the world. You are in no hurry. Thank You for Your patience and lovingkindness. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 25 key: vs. 3-5
3 Surely no one who waits for You will be ashamed.
But the treacherous without cause will be ashamed.
4 Show me Your ways, Adonai.
Teach me Your paths.
5 Guide me in Your truth, and teach me,
for You are God, my salvation,
for You I wait all day.
Attention: Who is waiting on whom? I was never in the military, but I have heard that the saying, “hurry up and wait,” was coined there.
In today’s key passage, David claims that “no one who waits for You (Adonai) will be ashamed.” In some translations the word they use is “disappointed.” I am reminded of the Isaiah 40:31 “they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.”
I am in such a rush. I want it now or sooner and God patiently waits for us to get the message, to get the point. It takes time to mature because, like aging wine, it is a process. Paul Masson winery’s slogan is, “We will sell no wine before its time.” Why? Because it is not wine until it completes the process, it is grape juice. A raisin is not a raisin but a grape, until it completes the process. And God patiently waits for us to grow up unto Him.
David also points out that God wait(s) all day for us. Is He waiting on us to be guided and taught? Are we teachable? Are we rebellious?
I remember watching my dad become more gentle as he aged. For those of us who have raised children, we find that we have been raised in the process. Do you find you have more understanding with your grandchildren than you had with your children? More patience? More forgiving?
The older I get and the more I have sinned and experienced God’s mercy, I find that I am more merciful, understanding and forgiving. If we have learned our lessons, we love God and others more because we have experienced the grace and mercy of God.
Action: I will embrace today, the necessity and power of “waiting” because God is “waiting” on me to grow up.
Yield: Waiting involves yielding my will.
Engaged: I am engaged in the process of waiting.
Relationship: I can wait on Adonai because He is waiting on me.
Prayer: Father, it is a two-way street. Waiting is something I must learn. Waiting is something which is Your nature because You are not bound by time and space. You have all the time in the world! Amen.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 40:31
31 but they who wait for Adonai
will renew their strength.
They will soar up with wings as eagles.
They will run, and not grow weary.
They will walk, and not be faint.
Music Video: I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130) Lyrics ~ Shane & Shane
Remember, “Abide in Jesus, today!”