Constant Reminders

Constant reminders are so good! I know I can be quite forgetful at times! Just as the previous post mentioned, God gave me reminders last week of His grace, comfort, and peace in times of waiting. Just only the day after hearing the devotion from my school's headmaster, one of my co-workers emailed the entire staff the following devotional entry. It was truly a blessing and encouragement to me during this season of my life. I hope it will serve as an encouragement to you, too!

January 27, 2012

Oh How Long, Lord?

Transformational Thought

I  am so impatient when I watch TV. Can't stand to watch commercials, not  even
Super Bowl commercials. How long 'til the game starts again? Have  you ever said
those words, "How long?," as in, "How long, Lord, until my  prayer is answered?
How long until life gets better? How long do You  want me to do this without seeing
results? How long do You want me to  suffer? How long do I have to "just hang in
there?" How long 'til my  kids get along? How long 'til my loved one stops drinking?"

When  Joseph was sold into slavery and later spent years in prison, he must  have
asked, "How long, Lord?" When Moses led the Israelites around and  around in the
wilderness, he surely thought, "How long, Lord?" When Noah  was ridiculed for 100
years while he built an ark on dry land, he must  have wondered, "How long, Lord?"
Simeon and Anna had been waiting for  decades, "How long until the Messiah comes?"
But each one of these  trusted God. They respected Him enough to continue obeying
Him even when  hope was almost snuffed out from a worldly perspective.

Perhaps  you are involved in a ministry that seems to go nowhere. Yet, you know
the Lord wants you there. Maybe you have been praying for an unsaved  loved one
for many years. Or perhaps you have a business that just isn't  coming together,
but the Lord has led you to continue. Be encouraged to  revere God by continuing
to obey him, even though you wonder, "How  long, Lord?"

Our  nature is to want our own agenda to be in place now. No waiting. We  don't
want others calling the shots. To avoid discomfort, we demand what  we want when
we want it. My kingdom come, my will be done. But waiting  and patience are powerful
teachers of many truths. This is how character  and many psychological skills are
developed. God knows the right  timing. Bend to His timeline and your peace and
growth will be  unbelievable.

Today,  be confident that God loves you. Examine your life to see what  situation
or area makes you impatient ... frustrated ... irritable. Make  sure you are doing
a good job with your part of the issue. Then accept  that God has a different timeline.
Learn the lesson He is teaching. The  timing glitch is in your life to grow you
... and often to protect you.  That is God's purpose for all that comes into your
life. He has a  perfect plan for you. We all just keep messing it up. His timing
is  always perfect because it is His timing. Follow Noah's example and keep  on
"doing all that God commands." Your decision, so choose well.

Prayer

Oh  Father, Lord, help me honor You by trusting You and waiting on You.  Even though
I get discouraged at times, help me remember that You are in  control and that Your
way is the best way. Your timing is the best  timing. Help me be patient so I can
show the world I am willing to wait  on You, Lord. Thy kingdom come, not my kingdom
come. I really don't want  to take over responsibility for the whole world, even
though sometimes I  act like it. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the
One who  demonstrated perfect timing, Jesus Christ; and all God's children say
-  AMEN!