DEVOTION: Psalm 40:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
40 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
Sometimes it's hard to wait. I hate waiting the minute it takes for the oatmeal to get done in the microwave in the morning. I can't stand waiting in line. I will go all the way around the traffic even though it will take as much time as if I would sit in the traffic and wait.
It is also very hard for me to wait on the Lord. I want to force things. I want to make things happen. I don't have time for waiting. I don't have time for being patient with the Lord. I want it, whatever it is, now!
The trouble with that is that the Lord's timing is always better. His ways are always right. I will never turn one soul to Christ. It is the Lord God, the Holy Spirit, that does that. So if I try to force things, I will only feel frustration and failure. If I do what the Lord has called me to do; pray, love, and forgive, He will do miraculous things through me.
I also know that when I give it up to the Lord and simply wait on him, he will incline to me, lift me up out of the mire, and set my feet upon a rock. He will take my bad circumstance and work it out for my good. He will make an example and a witness out of me.
You probably got off to a good start in 2017. You are eating right. You are exercising. You are getting more organized. But now, maybe you aren't experiencing the results you want. You may even be tired of it already. Or maybe you've already failed and your figuring what's the use.
Whatever your circumstance, I urge you to wait patiently for the Lord so that He can lift you up and renew your strength, so that he can give you the blessings he wants to give you, so that you can rest in him, and so that you can live in newness of life.
Prayer: Lord, when I don't want to wait, give me the patience and peace I need to do so, so that you can bless me and give me hope and a future. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Mon- Confirmation 5:15-6:30; 6-12 grade Youth planning meeting 6:30
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Trustees 7
Wed- Choir 7
Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Abby Vossen; 11- Dulci Rahn
Ushers- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Randy Fischer
Greeters- 8:30- Barb and Allan Dreyer; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Stephanie Owenby
Piano- Kathy Barrow