Wait on the Lord

Recently I was really battling negative thoughts and giving in to depression.  Old habits die hard.  After the holiday break of sporatic prayer time and being impatient and sharp tongued with the kids, I started my day yesterday just clearing the slate in a time of confession before the Lord.  He knows and is not surprised by my fallenness, so that was really an exercise for me to agree with Him with regard to sin and look to His word for reminders of who God is and what is true about His character and mine.  Afterwards, I continued to wallow in my discouragement hoping God would bring me out of that funk.  However, I kept my eyes on my failures instead of trusting God to answer my cry for help.  I remained in defeat.

I decided this morning to do a word study on "wait".  It started in Psalm 27: 13-14:

"I am confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord;  be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I got to wondering how the word "wait" was being used.  I followed the cross-referenced verses and with the help of my concordance discovered that in each case the word "wait" meant to be expectant.

Psalm 130:5-6 states: "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."

That is a beautiful word picture.  Watchmen stand guard through the night, but wait expectantly for the first hues of dawn to rise above the horizon, knowing that it is coming.  There is certainty there.  I love what Matthew Henry says about this passage as he explains the degree of expectant dependence on God:

"...we must hope for it because He has promised it, and not from any opinion of our own merit.  The degree of that dependence, more than those who watch for the morning who are (1.) Well assured that the morning will come; and so am I that God will return in mercy to me according to His promise; for God's covenant is more firm than the ordinances of day and night, for they shall come to an end, but that is everlasting.  (2.) very desirous that it would come.  Sentinels that keep guard upon the walls, those that watch with sick people and travellers that are abroad upon their journey, long before day wish to see the dawning of the day; but more earnestly does this good man, for the tokens of God's favour and the visits of His grace, and more readily would he be aware of his first appearances that they are of day."

When I was praying yesterday morning, I cried out to the Lord, but still focused on my failure rather than the surety of God's grace.  It wasn't until I spoke aloud, later in the day, the promises of God and reset my gaze on the truth of His word that the cloud lifted and God spoke encouragement and purpose to my heart.

I reflected this morning on the fact that God longs to extend unending mercies to His children.  He takes great delight in us coming broken before Him, recognizing that His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

This ongoing work of redemption and sanctification that God does in our lives comes from His endless
supply of grace.  All it requires of us is that we wait expectantly.  Matthew Henry states:

"The riches of this redemption; it is plentious redemption, is an all-sufficient fulness of merit and grace in the Redeemer, enough for all, enough for each, enough for me, says the believer."

Enough for me!

Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33)  Though that is true, God has already given us all that we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1: 3-5)  He allows us to be partakers of His divine nature!  He has given us His word and His Holy Spirit!  Amazing!  

As we depend wholly on God's unlimited resources, it is like drawing water from a well that never runs dry. We have the further promise that when we cry out to God, His eyes are on us and His ears are attentive to our cry. (Psalm 34:15)  I love the emphasis on the senses; sight and sound.  I can imagine my Heavenly Father's eyes looking lovingly at me and His ears attentively listening to my voice.

As I look to God and yield my life to Him, He then has the opportunity to show His glory through me.  

"Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:3b)

It's not about me!  It's all about Him!

His story!

His glory!

His love!

Thank you God that You hear my cries.  Thank you that I can wait expectantly for You to respond when I am in the pit!  Thank you for your overwhelming forgiveness and limitless mercy and grace.  Thank you for showing Yourself faithful in ways that I can see and understand.  Thank you that the more You reveal of Yourself in my life, my faith is strengthened.  Oh, me of little faith!  Thank you for lifting me out of the pit and setting my feet on the sure foundation of Your word.  May I wait on You as the watchman waits for the dawn, expecting You to lavish Your mercies on me in all faithfulness.  For Your glory!  Amen.