Waiting

I've started reading Andrew Murray's book Waiting on God.

I am only 4 days into it. But I love it. I don't think I could have started reading it at a better time in life than right now. I've had it for months and every time I see it on the shelf I say to myself, "Missy, you should read this. You need to be learning how to wait well"

After Monday Night Group I decided to just starting it. We have been talking about living intentionally and with goals, seeking after knowledge in areas God has placed on our hearts.

I really recommend the study by Elizabeth George, A Woman After God's Own Heart. She has so many amazing ideas about living life intentionally and making changes to best serve God during every season of life. She recommended starting 5 fat files. 5 topics you want to invest your time and energy into for and eternal purpose.

One of my files is going to be Contentment/Waiting on God. It's something I have learned a lot about personally in the last year. It's not something I am perfected in yet! I started filling my file with info by reading this book, Waiting on God. So far, I am flooded with amazing insights by Andrew Murray about waiting patiently and expectantly on our God.

Some things he said that were inspiring to me, I hope are encouraging to you as well:

"Once a believer begins to see it and consent to it- that he just , by the Holy Spirit, each moment receive what God each moment works- waiting on God  becomes his brightest hope and joy."

"God unceasingly giving and working and His child unceasingly waiting and receiving; this is the blessed life."

In chapter 2

"We hinder Him either by our indifference or by our self- effort, so that He cannot do what He wants to do."

*that is what I have been thinking about lately. I felt very indifferent last week but then I felt that the only other option was for me to be doing things to make things work out. This week I feel more balanced in that sense.

" There can be no good but what God works. To wait upon God, and have the heart filled with faith in His working, and in that faith to pray for His mighty power to come down, is our only wisdom, Oh, for the eyes of our heart to be opened to see God working in ourselves and in others."

"Our private and public prayers are our chief expressions of our relationship to God"

Chapter 3

"Let us resolve at once that it will be the one characteristic of our life and worship, a continual, humble, truthful waiting upon God. We may rest assured that He who made us for Himself, that He might give Himself to us and in us, that He will never disappoint us, In waiting on Him, we will find rest and joy and strength, and the supply of every need."

Then Chapter 4. I would have to write the entire chapter down.

That chapter "pulled my card" so to speak. :)

Get the book and read it! It's a month long devotional. Each chapter is 2-3 pages long and is packed with knowledge and wisdom. I look forward to reading it everyday.

Anyway, I am learning more and am finding myself more and more desperate for our lives to be changing soon. But I wait.

The Psalm I read today was Psalm 25. Coincidence? I think not.

UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life.    O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.


    Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.


    Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.


    Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.


    Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from of old.


    Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O Lord.


    Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way.
    He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way.


    All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
   For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity and my guilt, for [they are] great.


    Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose.


    He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
   
 The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.^(A)


    My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.
    [Lord] turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
    The troubles of my heart are multiplied; bring me out of my distresses.
    


    Consider my enemies, for they abound; they hate me with cruel hatred.
    O keep me, Lord, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You.


    Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for and expect You.
    Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles.