CONSIDER IT
We've talked about the focus of hope - that guaranteed time in the future when we will see God face to Face, when our bodies will be made like Jesus' glorified body, when we will worship Him with the angels, when we will feast with Him at His banquet. We can cultivate this hope by worshiping God here and now with one another, by spending time in His Presence, by paying attention to His Presence as we go through our days, and by choosing to persevere rather than give up when life is hard. Where do we get the strength to persevere? From God, of course. In today's devotion, we will look at His promise to renew our strength when we place our hope in Him.
EXPERIENCE IT
"Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being, instead of trying to figure things out for yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live all day, every day. I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties. I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will. It also helps you to enjoy Me. For in My Presence is fullness of joy"
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? How do you go about doing this in practical terms?
"I am the culmination of all your hopes and desires. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last; who is and was and is to come. Before you knew Me, you expressed your longing for Me in hurtful ways. You were ever so vulnerable to the evil around you in the world. But now My Presence safely shields you, enfolding you in My loving arms. I have lifted you out of darkness into My marvelous Light. Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive My blessings with open hands. Enjoy My good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the Giver of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in Me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: My Presence with you"
Think of one of the major hopes you have. How is God the culmination of that hope?
(Consider It ... Experiencing It / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 62:5-8; Psalm 147:11 and Psalm 130:5, 7
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hopes comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is my refuge"
ReplyDelete(Psalm 62:5-8 / New International Version)
"...the LORD delights in those who fear (revere) him, who put their hope in his unfailing love"
(Psalm 147:11 / New International Version)
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption"
(Psalm 130:5, 7 / New International Version)