Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.

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Read

Psalm 130 (NRSV)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

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Reflect

Waiting is tough. We have a favorite Thai restaurant in our little town. The owner shops for fresh food every day. Every sauce is hand made. Every dish is prepared as it is ordered. It is the best food within at least a 100 mile radius.

However, there is one small problem: The owner is also the chef in the restaurant. Since he only has two hands, the wait can get to be long—very long at times. So, if you want to get food quickly, go to a chain restaurant and get on with your day. If you want good food, go to Tiny Thai and plan to stay for a while.

Waiting on the good things that God offers is sometimes very difficult. We start to worry that God has forgotten our distress, when in reality God is preparing us a feast of the most wonderful dishes we can imagine. If we lose patience and move on without God, we miss the banquet. The quick hamburger may fill a void, but is doesn’t nourish us or satisfy our desires. It leaves us wanting the “good stuff”—God’s stuff.

We must learn to wait for the Lord. When we are invited to dine at God’s table, the meal will be a banquet overflowing with all for which we had hoped and more. What are you waiting on from God? How can you wait with patient hope?

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Pray

Lord of hope, when we wait on your timing, it is like Christmas morning every day. Yet, we often fail to wait patiently. Help us to use the anticipation to prepare for the blessing you have waiting for us. You have redeemed us. Help us to live out that redemption everyday with joy and purpose. Amen.

Go with God.