Psalm 106:13-15

Psalm 106:13-15 It wasn't long before they forgot the whole thing,       wouldn't wait to be told what to do.    They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert,       provoked God with their insistent demands.    He gave them exactly what they asked for-       but along with it they got an empty heart. MSG

O Dear God! It makes me sick to think how much I'm like the Israelites! I have seen Your mighty works! I too was a slave. Addictions, attractions and afflictions owned me. I was held captive by power, prestige, and possessions. Satisfaction, security, and significance seized me. The excruciating work was unending. I was hopeless and helpless until You came along and miraculously purchased me. Setting me free, You promised me a bigger, better and brighter future - a gloriously beautiful home in heaven, and a fortune beyond my imagination. I was eager and excited to pursue a new life with You. Sadly, I've lost focus and forgot all that You've done for me. Wandering in the wilderness, I can no longer see heaven on the horizon. The hope I had for a great fortune is gone. I've lost sight of You and am unhappy. I don't like the uncomfortable living conditions. It's not what I expected. Sin, suffering and sorrow have scorched me. I'm parched by problems and pain. Kicking and screaming like a spoiled child, I want to go home! I crave the pleasures and treasures left behind. I can't wait for You! I'm going to do it my way! O God, have mercy on me for my little faith! I don't want to be like the contentious Israelites! I see what happened to them. You gave them exactly what they asked for - but along with it they got an empty heart! Please don't let my heart be empty! Fill it with to overflowing with Your love and power. Then, in the midst of my misery, I'll rejoice and give thanks to You for accomplishing Your will in my life. I'll be able to sing sweet songs of salvation in my sadness, and powerfully plead for patience during pain. Full of You, I'll smile when I feel like crying and keep walking vigorously toward the heavenly home You promised because of Jesus. Amen.

Are you like me, unable to wait while wandering in the wilderness? I encourage to you to make a list of all the miracles God has done for you. Carry it with you as you walk with Him and remember His promises!  He didn't promise it would be easy. He did promise to supply you with sufficient strength to endure all situations. Will you believe Him? A few of the miracles God has given me: He set me free from my sins. He adopted me and gave me a new life, despite my deficiencies.  He allows me to represent His kingdom on earth. He entrusts me with His Word. He walked with me slowly through the valley of death, allowing me to pick a beautiful bouquet of blessings as we went. He has changed by heart of stone to a heart of flesh. He has been so good to me! I hope I'll always remember!  "Life is hard, but my heart is harder. I'd rather complain than rejoice in my circumstances."

Psalm 40:1-3

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,       and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair,       out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground       and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing,       a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed.       They will put their trust in the Lord.NLT

Faithful God, I praise and adore Your Holy Word. If I would just slow down and talk to You through prayer, You would faithfully listen to me! If I would just turn around and face You, perusing my Bible, You would speak to me! The problem is I'm too busy wallowing in the ditch of despair. Up to my neck in mud and muck, I'm constantly trying to pull myself out of sticky situations. Unfortunately, the harder I try, the deeper I sink.  I need You, Jesus, to come to my rescue! Come, pull me out of the hopeless pit! Set my feet on solid ground. Wash away the slime of sin. Cleanse me from the miserable mire of my mistakes. Rinse away the froth of fear. Breathe new life into me. Put a joyful song in my heart. Steadily and securely, I'll walk in Your ways, singing praises to the One who sought, found and saved me from severe destruction. Please dear Lord, pay attention to my plea! Pick me up while I wait. Bless me with joy and peace to go where You send me in Your name, proclaiming the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

Are you despondent in the ditch of despair, exhausted trying to dig your way out? Stop digging and wait for Him. Peruse your Bible and pray, asking for His help. Then, He will: 1)    Pay attention to your plea 2)    Pull you from the pit 3)    Plant your feet on solid ground 4)    Protect your steps 5)    Put a joyful song in your mouth Waiting patiently on the Lord will pick you up from your despair, causing you to praise Him. It will make you shine like the Son, lighting the way out of the pit for others who are up to their necks in messy situations. In your current circumstances, are you grumbling or glistening for Him?

Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 40:31 Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Everlasting God~ You are the Creator of everything. Because You have unlimited power, You never grow tired or weary. You are always available to re-energize me and refresh my strength during the seemingly hopeless storms of life. Like an eagle, in the midst of the storm, I spread my wings of faith to embrace the wind. Placing my dependency on You and You alone, I'll experience quiet wonders: Your bliss balances my burdens Your power pick ups my problems Your peace pacifies my pain Your tenderness touches my troubled heart  Soaring will become an adventure of discovering just how faithful You are when I'm in the stratosphere over the storm. It will be an exhilarating experience! I'll no longer be content to stay inside where it is relatively safe and secure. I'll want to walk outside and live by faith in the midst of the storm. Please use the storms in my life: To take me higher in my relationship with You To fall deeper in love with You To grow stronger my faith in You To walk more vigorously with You To bear more fruit for You Use the wicked winds of life to grow my wings of faith. Just as the strong gales make it possible for the eagles to soar, so sin, suffering and sorrow make it possible for me to rise above the tempest of temptation. Please dear Lord, just give me more confidence to wait through the mourning with renewed strength, and not grow weary. As I fly, I will focus on Your beautiful face and live for Your future glory because of Jesus.  Amen.

What storm are you facing? Are you soaring through it with Holy Spirit power?

Lamentations 3:25-26

Lamentations 3:25-26 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Merciful Lord, I'm thankful for Your on-going instruction on how to wait for You. When I feel lost and alone, I shouldn't grumble, complain or make a lot of noise. Rather, I should be still, silently expecting You to lead me. Alone with You, I'll open the sacred Treasure Chest of Scripture. Diligently digging through it, I'll peruse each costly command and precious promise. While I wait I'll ponder them, prayerfully asking You, the Owner, perplexing questions. In response, You'll give me an understanding of Your amazing grace and incredible love. I'll discover that there is nothing more valuable than Your priceless blood that purchased my pardon. Accepting it will prosper me with glorious power to endure problems and pressures peacefully. Carrying the bright and beautiful jewels of power, peace and patience in my heart will illuminate the Way through the darkness of difficulty to heaven where I can anticipate living happily ever after with You. Jesus, You are the goodness I seek. In You, are all the riches of heaven that will satisfy the deepest desires of my heart. Please give me more patience to seek You while I wait for the glory of Your name. Amen.

What are you seeking while you wait for your trial to end? I encourage you to peruse your Bible for God's commands and promises while you wait. Examine them carefully. Cover them in prayer. When you do, you'll discover the Good Fortune you've always been seeking and be satisfied.

1 Peter 1: 24-25

1 Peter 1: 24-25 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Glorious One, Thank You for the beautiful lessons of autumn. With a gentle breath from heaven the dry, yellowed grasses wave impassively in the chilly fall air. The leaves, while glistening with dazzling colors, begin to crackle and drop from their branches,  blowing here and there. The pretty pallet of posies that peeked in my window all summer has long since faded. As I reflect on the sights of the season, I'm reminded that life is short. Like the flowers, fame and fortune will fade. Good health will eventually wilt and wither. Beauty will flee like the falling leaves.

Take a fresh look at the sights of autumn. Life too is fleeting. How will you spend it?

Isaiah 64:6-7

Isaiah 64:6-7 We all shrivel up like a leaf,        and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name        or strives to lay hold of you;        for you have hidden your face from us        and made us waste away because of our sins.

O Divine Artist, The vivid illustrations You paint in Your Word delight my imagination. Over the past several weeks, the dazzling autumn leaves dancing in the brisk fall air have mesmerized me.. Their elegant display of rich, stunning colors that seemed so full of life tricked me. Kissed by the warm sun, they quickly withered, weakened and were swept away by a gust of wind. The once stately trees are suddenly lifeless. Dormant, there's nothing pretty about them.  So it is with my life. I try to elegantly display my wonderful works for a watching world. I've wasted endless time and energy trying to impress people. In pursuit of the dreams and desires of my heart, I've neglected to seek the plans and purposes of Your heart for me. Like the shriveled autumn leaves that once thrived with abundant life, I've fallen from the Tree of Life. Blown away by the compulsion to prove my value, my works have become worthless. Fruitless, there's nothing striking about me. If I want to remain vibrant and productive I need to take time be with You daily. Diligently studying Your Word and communicating with You in passionate, persistent, heartfelt prayer You'll show me what's on Your heart and mind. When I turn around, face You, and accept the blazing Truth, my soul will dance like the autumn leaves. Devoted to You, my life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that will naturally attract others to Your inexplicable beauty. In my life Lord be glorified because of Jesus. Amen.

Our works will shrivel up like the autumn leaves and be blown away; but our worship will last forever. I urge you to get connected to the Tree of Life by spending time in God's Word and passionate, persistent, heartfelt prayer. Ask Him to show you the desires of His heart and watch as He reveals His glory. Then, you will be impressed with Him and His work.

Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3 Christ is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. (ESV) 2 Corinthians 3:18 All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. (MSG)

O Glorious Lord, Thank You for autumn, the wondrous time of year when You naturally display Your radiant glory. The joyous explosion of color that bursts over the landscape breathes life into my soul. Blazing, multi-colored palettes of fall foliage are a spectacular   backdrop for Your jaw-dropping beauty. You are the exact imprint of the stunning vistas that mesmerize me. As I spend time in Your nature, open the eyes of my heart and enlighten my mind to see the glory of Jesus. Forgive me for the excessive attention I pay to insignificant people and things. Have mercy on me for Christ's sake. Complete the fascinating design You began in me. Make me a showcase to display the magnificent, splendid, wonderful glory of Your grace. Shine the light of the Gospel into my heart. Set me ablaze like the fall foliage as I focus clearly on Your glorious face. Transform me into Your brilliant, majestic, beautiful image. My blessed hope is in the day when I'll perfectly radiate Your glory because of Jesus. Amen.

When I ponder autumn's beauty, I'm acutely aware that it is exceedingly more beautiful than me. I'm deeply moved and humbled. By nature, I do not live beautifully. My heart is too often consumed with concern about my glory rather than God's. This revelation through God's gloriously beautiful creation helps me keep things in perspective: God is BIG and beautiful. People are significantly smaller and less attractive.

Psalm 104:1

Psalm 104:1 O LORD my God, you are very great;  you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

O Lord, You are incredibly awesome! Wrapped in an elegant garment of brilliant light, You are dressed in golden splendor and majesty. You stretch out the skies like an unending tent over the entire universe. You send glimmering rays from heaven to glisten on the water. A blazing Holy Spirit Wildfire ignites hearts and souls with Your glory. As the brisk breeze blows puffy white clouds, You ride them like Your chariots. The   winds are Your messenger. Sometimes they quietly whisper, rustling the colorful autumn leaves. Other times they're a thunderous roar rebuking raging rivers into the ravines. You are an amazingly sophisticated artist. You've wisely designed day and night, land and sea, plants and animals, man and woman, each with a unique purpose for Your pleasure. The earth is full of Your glorious goodness. How many are Your works O Lord! Your glory endures forever! When I look on the magnificent high, jagged peaks rising abruptly from the flat valley, I am captivated by Your wonderful creativity. Gazing upon spectacular splashing waves suddenly lifting from the deep sea, I am spellbound by Your splendid beauty. Seeing You as You truly are, my only response is to exalt You in the beauty of Your holiness and sing praises to my Creator King. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea!  Amen.

Take a walk through nature and worship the ground you walk on. It's God's private property.

Psalm 37:1-9

Psalm 37:1-9 Do not fret because of evil men  for like the grass they will soon wither, Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.  or be envious of those who do wrong; like green plants they will soon die away.

Patient Teacher, I'm overwhelmed by the secrets You share with me when I open my Bible and my heart. Your Word corrects my wayward thinking. All these years I've been waiting for passing pleasures. Fame and fortune will fade. Good health will eventually wilt and wither. Beauty will flee like a dying flower. The hustle and bustle will come to a screeching halt when I appear before Your holy throne.  While I wait, please help me to: Believe that You'll be faithful to Your promises (v3) Do good deeds (v3) Remain in the place where You put me without wandering off or wishing for greener pastures (v3) Enjoy Your provision and protection (v3) Hang out with You, reading Your Word and praying (v4) Hand over everything to You - my health, my relationships including family, my job, my possessions, my finances, and my time - trusting that You will care for them better than I can (v5) Be calm and quiet  - no grumbling and complaining  (v7) Never be envious, angry, or anxious (v1, 7, 8) You are the only Way to peace and everlasting happiness! While I wait, You promise to sustain me and keep me safe. You'll make me glow with the purity and warmth of the Son. By trusting in Your power, protection and provision day by day, waiting will be a worthwhile investment in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Jesus is coming! What will you do while you wait? Here are a few lessons God has taught me:  It's easy to desire someone else's fame, fortune, health or lifestyle. I need to learn to be content where I am, with the things I have. Caught in the hustle and bustle of the world, I realized that my irritation and anxiety while waiting in traffic, doctor offices, and airports is a waste of energy. While I'm huffing and puffing about the situation, I could practice praying. Often, I pursue passing pleasures, without even pondering God's promises.  Minutes after I wrote this, I went to the post office to buy some stamps. I walked in and noticed that the guy in front of me had about six huge boxes to ship! With a big sigh and roll of my eyes, I huffed out the door to the self-service stamp machine. Two hours later, I found myself in a line at the grocery store with a seemingly incompetent cashier. Again, I found myself irritated and annoyed! Aware of my attitude, I began to pray for her.

Psalm 130:5-6

Psalm 130:5-6 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.

Lord, I admit I'm a most impatient child! Even though You promise special blessings for those who quietly wait, it's a very difficult assignment for me! I'm living in a fast-paced world where we drive fast cars through fast food restaurants, gobbling the grub as we speed down the freeway. Instant cash at ATM's and instant information on the internet provide for instant gratification. And I wonder why waiting is hard! Please dear Lord, slow me down! I want off this race track! Rather than speeding to keep up with everyone else, worrying about my security, career and relationships, I want to deliberately depend on Your provision and protection. Instead of pursuing power, prestige, and possessions for pleasure, I want to down shift, allowing You to take me to everlasting happiness. Zooming through life I miss out on opportunities to serve You; consequently, also losing the rich rewards You pay Your workers. At break-neck speed my perception is poor and my vision distorted as in the darkness of night. I simply can't see clearly! Going at a slower, safer speed I'll begin to see You for who You really are: loving, kind and reliable. I'll come to depend on You for power, provision and protection. I'll learn to trust Your principles, promises and purposes. Concentrating on Your goodness, I'll find peace and hope in Your Word, the Bible. Please fill me with patience to endure the long, silent night of my soul, eagerly expecting the definitive morning when the Son will rise and warm my heart with heavenly hope for Your namesake. Amen.

Most of us are waiting for something - a promotion or pay increase, a diagnosis or cure, a birth or a death, a trial or a verdict, a wayward child to come home, to overcome an addiction or bad habit, to win the lottery or lose a few pounds, for a voice at Verizon to pick up the phone or a computer to respond ... What are you waiting for? Are you impatient, like me, trying to devise your own schemes and plans to get ahead? I encourage you to slow down and go with God. In His Word you will find the only Way to peace and everlasting happiness.

Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. NLT

Thank You, Lord, for showing me the secret path to the high throne of heaven. It is not through weeping or working. It isn't through studying or serving. Offering my time without heartfelt devotion is inadequate. Presenting my talent without wholehearted dedication is insufficient. Halfheartedly giving my treasure out of obligation is inappropriate. You don't want religious ceremonies and showy performances. The only walkway to the peace, contentment and security of a throne-life is to follow You with all my heart. It will please You when, by faith, I humbly come to the foot of the cross admitting my faults and failures allowing the bond of Your blood to fix and fortify me. Realizing the high price You paid to correct my defects will give me a deeper desire to walk Your way. I'll willingly give up family, friends and freedom in order to spend time getting to know You better. The more I know You, the more readily I'll abandon my ambitions in order to do Your will. Forfeiting my comfortable lifestyle and social status to suffer hardship will perfect my faith, make me shine purer and brighter, and draw others to You. Believing that I am who You say I am: a chosen child who is holy and blameless in Your sight, today I choose to freely set aside my dreams and desires to follow You to the throne room of heaven where I'll have access to Your almighty power, divine authority and perfect guidance. Claiming my proper position beside You, my eyes will constantly be drawn to You, my strength will only come from You, and my actions will be wholly pleasing to Your name. Hallelujah! Amen.

God is ready and willing to show you the way to the throne room of heaven where you will find peace, contentment, and security in all circumstances. He promises to share the secret path with the humble. (Psalm 25:9, 14) He doesn't care how much you weep or work; study or serve. He doesn't care how good or bad you've been. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor; neat or unkempt. All He wants is your whole heart devoted to following Him wherever He goes at any cost. David Wilkerson writes, "This is the sacrifice every believer must make if He is to know the mind of God. The Lord never shares his plans with those who hold onto their own devices. Why would He direct anyone who's determined to go their own way?" "Dear saint, the throne room is now open to you. Accept what Christ has done, and boldly take your position with him, by faith. He accepts your resigned will. Now, ask Him to open the eyes of your understanding. And confess, 'I believe what the Lord says about me: that I'm a conquering prince. I also believe that I'm where He says I am: in the throne room of heaven. I'm sitting with Him in a place of authority over all of Satan's works. Hallelujah, Amen."