Daily Reading: Luke 24
Scripture Focus: And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24.49)
Devotional Thought: Waiting is not easy for us, is it? We are conditioned by our culture and driven by our desires to want what we want when we want it. If we are honest, we must confess that we even approach God that way. But, the things of God are worth waiting for.
Waiting itself is a valuable discipline:
Waiting increases trust. Children gauge their parents’ love by what their parents give them. When parents are slow on delivery, children accuse them of not loving them. As children are disciplined through waiting, they learn to trust in their parents' love even when they don’t get what they want. That’s a valuable lesson to learn. When we wait upon God, we learn to trust his love without his gifts.
Waiting develops patience. There are things in life that cannot happen immediately. I have prayed with hundreds of families through surgeries of their loved ones. I try to always remember to pray for their recovery - that God gives them strength to stick with it. After the surgery, the process of healing has only begun. When we wait for things to happen, we develop a spirit of calm and peace that says, “I can get through this.”
Waiting fosters gratitude. To have everything we want whenever we want it – what a perfect existence, right? Wrong! Instant gratification dulls our sense of gratitude. We all have known “spoiled” children who turned into “spoiled” teens and “spoiled” adults! When we don’t appreciate things, we tend to take them – and the people who provide them – for granted. When we wait for things, we realize that we are not “entitled” to them and that helps us appreciate those who provide them.
By the way, tomorrow is Christmas. I can’t wait!
Prayer: Lord, with the prophet of old, I proclaim: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Amen. (Isaiah 25.9).
Psalm of the Day: 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] 14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalms 145:10-21)
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