Waiting

But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. Leviticus 7:17 (KJV)

The following devotional deeply convicted me this morning because the Lord has been saying this to me for months and months (maybe years actually). I know it in my head, but in practice I am a poor player. The one encouragement is the first line, "It may seem and easy thing to wait, but is is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching."

Wait on the Lord

"Wait on the Lord."--Psalm 27:14

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting, is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come and shall not tarry. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses; never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in the full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower."

C.H.S.

Father,

I am a pitiful waiter upon you. Despite the numerous times you have stood up from your drowsing and calmed the storm, I am repeatedly like the disciples, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38b) But, You my Father, my King, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Counselor, my gentle Rebuker, my Patient Faithful Father, You always say to me, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" to which I crumple up at Your feet once again in utter shame and amazement at You and wonder, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (taken from Mark 4:40-41)

Once again, Father, thank You for Your never ending mercy upon me. Thank You that I can know that these past months of torment and frustration were allowed by You through satan in order to prove me, test me, burn off the dross, and KILL ME, so that the beautiful aroma of Jesus Christ's nature could come through. I am ashamed of the stench of my flesh, but I am grateful that You have not stopped, yet again, to allow the burning of it that something more beautiful would shine through.

AMAZEMENT HAS SEIZED ME YET AGAIN!

Amen