To Obey...

Matthew 21:28-31 HCSB

28) But what do you think?  A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said, "My son, do, work in the vineyard today."

29) He answered, "I don't want to!"  Yet later changed his minded went.

30) Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.  "I will, sir." He answered.  But he didn't go.  

31)  "Which of the two did his father's will?"  "The first," they said.  Jesus said to them, "I assure You:  Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 

32) For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him.  Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it didn't even change your minds then and believe him.  

In listening to my pastor preach on this passage I found myself to be convicted.  I am often the second son, polite and so outwardly well-intentioned to obey My Father and yet I get no further than the next item of my day than I have either talked myself out of what I think I heard God say to me or I rationalize it away with the thoughts that I cannot do it and surely He would not want me to.  

I spend so much of my time thinking about what I think I need to do rather than doing it!!  Forgive me, Jesus!  I also spend a great deal of time wondering why I am who I am and why I don't do things the way others do!  I realize it is ridiculous, particularly as I confess it to you.  But the Word says in James 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.  

I desperately want to be an obedient child of my Father.   One that trusts in Him to make the difference rather than constantly evaluating what I should or should not be doing.   I want to remember:

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV) 

1)  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, see your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

2)  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  

What about you?  Do you see yourself in the parable above about the two sons?  What is God calling us to do?  Will we do it? 

Father, forgive me for so often making the statement that I am going to obey You and yet not following through.  I ask You to give me ears to hear You and to walk in Your Ways not turning to the right or to the left or even hightailing it in the other direction.  Please, through give me Your Strength, Jesus, to not get stalled looking at what I think or what I have or have not done but to fix my eyes on You and take the next step of obedience.   Forgive me, Father,  for not trusting You to truly have me and instead trusting in my own thoughts.  I pray that all who share in this journey Your way with me, Father, will confess to and pray for one another so that we may be healed.  I want to know the powerful effect of meeting with You and being changed.  May we reach out to those who are hurting and share our own struggles when it would be a benefit and may we share the hope that You have given us with those who do not know You.  Thank You for never being willing to leave me where I am, but constantly convicting, challenging and changing me.  I want to step out of Your way and bring You glory, Lord.  Thank You that You have made me to be who I am.  I submit myself to You once again and ask You to be my Lord and have Your way in me and through me.  It is all because of You, Jesus, thank You.  

Hope?

Guide me in Your Truth & teach me; for You are God my Savior, & my hope is in You all day long. Psalm 25:5 NIV

[Guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.  Psalm 25:5 HCSB]

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.  Psalm 31:24 HCSB

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.  My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.  God is our refuge.  Psalm 62:5-8

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:28-31

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith in to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.  This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 
Romans 5:1-5

Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.  Romans 12:12

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlighten so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working of His vast strength.   Ephesians 1:16-19 

...train yourself in godliness, for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  this saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.  In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living god, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.   1 Timothy 4:7b-9

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith --more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire --may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:3-7

 HOPE - to wait, look for, expect; confident expectation

His Word speaks for itself.

I am struggling with hope - as it entails waiting & patience ;)  I find I that I am often placing my hope in wanting my situation to change or people to change and even more wanting myself to change rather than placing my hope in my Lord.  It is a moment-by-moment choice that I occasionally get right but more often than not I seem to be falling flat on my face.  Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation?  Where are you placing your hope?  Where I am?

Father God, I want to rejoice in You in trials and not get so caught up in my day to day circumstances and wondering what is to come or trying to figure out the whys.  Help me to be persistent in choosing hope and persistent in prayer.  Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may know the restoration of the hope of Your calling in my life.  I want to allow You to have all of me and to experience the vast working of Your strength.  I want Your wisdom, Lord.  Pour out Your love in my heart and enable me to share that love with others in such a way that brings You glory.  Help me to get my courage and confidence from You instead of seeking it from other people and things.  May I rest in You and place my hope in You all day long.  Help me to labor toward godliness and holiness.  I know that everything depends upon You and that You are trustworthy.  Help me not to just know it but to live as if I know it.  Forgive me for not rejoicing in You and allowing fear and anxiety to have its way in me rather than You.  I so look forward to heaven, God, that sometimes I am no 'earthly' good.  Please help me to long for You and yet surrender to Your timing and the things that You allow to come my way to make me more like You.  I choose to set my eyes upon You, period! Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of my salvation, Father.  Let my full hope be in You and You alone - confidently expecting You to do Your work in me regardless of what I think I see or know.  Trusting that You are always at work to complete the good work You have begun in me through Jesus.  Help me to have a thankful heart and a joyful spirit.  Thank You that You never get tired or weary and that You will renew my strength in Your time and in Your way. 

LORD, have Your way

Psalm 147:11  
The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.  

Psalm 37:23-24 
If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.  

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I am intrigued by the thought of The LORD delighting in me.
Delight - to please greatly; to accept

I tend to think more often on the fact that I am to take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4) not that He (The LORD - Jehovah, The Self-existing One) takes delight in me.  He delights in "those who fear Him".
Fear - to revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect.

I find that reverence and awe, even honor and respect is hard for me to show sometimes.  I find that in my pride I am more often trying to prove that I am self-reliant, attempting to help myself even when I think I am seeking the LORD, or desiring to.

How do we right our mind-set when all around us we are expected to handle things ourselves?  Through praise and thanksgiving.  I must praise my LORD, recognize who He is and my mind-set, my vision even, begins to change.  This is hard for me.  I struggle with renewing my mind and not allowing myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world and because I do I then have trouble being able to test and approve what God's will is (Romans 12:2).  I do not necessarily often overtly conform to the pattern of this world but internally I am conforming because I begin to think that I "know" what I need or everyone else needs.  I have strong opinions and convictions.  That is a good thing when my convictions and opinions are the Truth of the Word of God, but when they simply become my judgments then I have succumbed to pride and I am definitely not revering the LORD but my own opinions.

"Fearing the LORD":  It is my job to look to Him and recognize His Greatness, His Power, His Mercy, His Grace, His Sovereignty... then I am in awe of Who He Is and then He is taking delight in me.

What does it mean to 'put my hope in His unfailing love'?
Hope in this verse means to hope for, to wait for, to expect (to trust).  Does this seem intangible to anyone else?  Does it seem difficult?  It is for me.  I have found that I am not so good at waiting (at being still).  I often find myself taking off on my own so to speak and then getting myself in a mess; whether it be through anxious thoughts or lack of peace, even hope.  Thankfully, my LORD never leaves me there, He convicts me and allows me to confess and begin again and then He shows me His unfailing love.

Now for Psalm 37:23-24.  If the LORD delights in my way, He will make my steps firm (or establish them) though I stumble I will not fall.  I often accuse myself of falling when truly it is only stumbling.  Stumbling over my pride and over what I have placed as an idol in my life.  The problem is that I begin to look at myself and my part - the stumbling - rather than looking at the fact that The LORD upholds me with His hand.

This is mind-blowing really... The LORD, who is all-powerful, all-knowing and who loves me unfailingly is holding me up with His hand!  How ridiculous it seems when I look at it through the Truth of His Word... I need to focus on Him and His strength, who He is rather than my mistakes and failings.

I want with all that is in me to be delightful to the LORD and yet I often allow my feelings, the enemy and others approval or disproval to convince me that I am not when the truth is that I already am delightful and through no effort of my own.  The LORD, my Father Himself, has made me acceptable (and delightful) in Jesus.

Ephesians 1:6b-9 "...to the praise of the glory of HIs grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus).  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself..."

So the Old Testament guides me in the fact that I need to fear Him, put my hope in His unfailing love and know that He will uphold me and the New Testament relieves me from the standpoint that Jesus has done the final work by making me delightful (beloved in Himself) and ultimately my job is to trust Him and look to Him and stop trying to make myself delightful, but praise Him and recognize Who He is at all times.  And to realize that though I will stumble He has me and I am secure in Him.

LORD, so often I find myself basically spinning my wheels, trying to figure out how to put my trust in You, to make myself delightful to You, to put my hope in Your unfailing love and yet feeling as if I am free-falling.  My faith is often weak.  I am often double-minded.  I am full of pride.  Forgive me for doubting myself so often and thus having my eyes fixed on me and my capabilities rather than on You and therefore I am doubting You.  Forgive me for being full of myself and thinking I need to figure out what is next or why I am in this season etc.  Help me to learn to rest in the completeness of all You have done, Jesus.  Help me to not excuse myself from doing my part in having awe in You, or not making a deliberate choice over and over to put my hope in Your unfailing love.  Forgive me for wasting so much of life being distracted, allowing myself to be deceived in all kinds of ways and for forgetting the lessons that You have already taught me.  Thank You for the redemption You provided for me, Jesus and for making me acceptable to the Father.  May I live my life in this truth, moment-by-moment, and day by day.  May I trust that You will make my steps firm, regardless of what I think I see, may I have the faith (trust in what is unseen) to know that You uphold me and when I stumble to not get stuck there trying to fix myself or figure out what happened but rest in knowing that You will keep hold of me.  Help me to forgive myself and let go of what I feel and TRUST IN WHAT I KNOW.  Father, may Isaiah 43:18-19 become truth in my life..."Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.  Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.  Do you not see it?  Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Give me eyes to see, LORD.  Have Your way in me.  

I am the me, HE wants me to be

God is AWESOME!!!  Do you agree???  Praise His Holy Name!!! Worship Him and Him alone!

I am truly overwhelmed by God and His faithfulness, His love, His correction, His hope, His willingness to allow His mercies to be new every morning!!!

In Oswald Chambers devotional for February 10, I am reminded of many things...
     "The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control."

     "If your own power to see has been blinded, don't look back on your own experiences, BUT LOOK TO GOD.  IT IS GOD YOU NEED.  (emphasis mine)

     "...DELIBERATELY TURN YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR EYES TO GOD." (emphasis mine)

    "It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others."

A friend shared a statement from February 7th's as well... "The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer!"

In reading in Exodus this morning, I am stirred with so much...
33:13 "Now He (The LORD) replied (to Moses) 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'"
34: 6a "Then the LORD passed in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed:  'Yahweh -- Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.'
34:8 "Moses immediately bowed dow to the ground and worshiped..."
34:9b "Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoings and sin, and accept us as Your own possession."  
35:21a "Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD..."
35:22a "Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts..."
36:1b "The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary."
36:2b  "in whose heart the LORD had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and do it."  

Ok, so I know it is a lot and yet it is only parts of the Scripture so check it all out and see for yourselves.

But God has so vividly reminded me this morning that I am me - not anyone else.  He has redeemed me, He has called me and He will prepare me.  I do not have to look like anyone but Jesus.  I need to look to Him and follow His lead and quick trying to figure 'things' out.

Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

Romans 12:2  "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

I am still to wait expectantly for him, to be still and let Him reveal Himself and then I am to do that which He tells me to.  Not what others think or expect or even what I think they think or expect.  I know that I know that God has called me to... "give myself (devote; give my attention) to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." Acts 6:4  How ever He tells me to do it and when He says to.  Not according to anyone's standards but His, not even my own!!!  Such freedom this brings if only I could and would remember it and stop getting distracted by ...  so many things, but mainly myself!!! LORD, help me to remember.  He causes me to want to worship!  He gives me a willing heart.  He gives me a heart that is moved and prompted by His Spirit.  He gives me wisdom and understanding to that which He has called me to do.  He is compassionate to me, forgiving of my wrongdoings, my sin.  His presence is with me ALL THE TIME!  I must go to Him for the creation of a clean heart and a renewed and steadfast spirit.  He will restore His joy in His salvation and He does uphold me by His generous Spirit.  And soooooo much more...

What has He called you to?  

He wants all of us to be willing and obedient and He does the providing of even that in us if we are willing.  Are you willing?  Am I?  Please God make me willing...moment by moment and day by day.

Father God, I do worship You for You alone are worthy of worship and praise!  Thank You for forgiving my sins over and over again.  I can be so stiff-necked and proud.  Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word.  May I listen and obey.  May I do the thing that You have placed in front of me to do with my eyes on You, not on myself, the past or what others think.  I know it is You that I need.  Give me eyes to see You...

His Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:15-16  NKJV
15)  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as were are, yet without sin.  
16)  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

NLT
15)  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.  

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Jesus is my High Priest.  Jesus is my mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5).  In Jesus and through faith in Him I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12).  Jesus is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask, or think, according to the power that works in me (Ephesians 3:20).
I can, by the mercies of God, present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is my reasonable service and not be conformed to this world but be transformed by choosing to renew my mind and then be able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).  

Today, Father, I just want to come to You and thank You for Jesus!  Thank You, Jesus, that You gave it all for me, that You endured all that You did for me and that through that and Your drawing me to Yourself I do not have to go to anyone other than You for forgiveness, for grace and mercy because You are my High Priest, the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Thank You that because of You Jesus, I have salvation and the opportunity for an intimate relationship with God.  Forgive me for so often taking You and this incredible relationship for granted.  Thank You for interceding for me, Jesus.  For leaving Your Holy Spirit to live within me.  Forgive me for grieving and quenching Him with my attitude, therefore sin in my life.  May I chose to come to You to obtain mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.  May I also chose to come boldly, not in my own strength, but bolding in the truth of Your finished work on the cross and Your love for me.  Thank You, Jesus for being able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that I ask or think according to Your power that works in me. Me!  May I submit.  May I present my body, my mind, my spirit, my will to You moment by moment.  Truly after all You have done for me and continue to do this is reasonable!  May I be willing and when I am unwilling may You change my heart and my thinking.  Help me to not get sucked into the traps of this world and not conform but be transformed through the renewing of my mind.  As You know, Jesus, this is the area where I struggle the most, in my mind.  Change my mind, renew my mind, transform my mind into the Mind of Christ...I know I already have been given Your mind (1 Corinthians 3:16b), so help me to live like it...  Forgive me for the impatience I exhibit in wanting to be more like You and thus forfeiting being like You in the very want to by my impatience and my own will.  Help me to be able to 'prove' or live that which is good and acceptable and Your will instead of taking off so often in my own strength and spending so much time analyzing rather than obeying.  Jesus help me to trust You and that Your Word is true for me.  Forgive me for my unbelief and my doubt, may I grow in Your ways.  Help me to learn to be content where You have me and to face head on what You have for me.  May I be thankful for this season of wait, of the unknown and know that it is not unknown to You and that in Your time You will reveal what You have for me.  Thank You for Your Word...most specifically today I thank You for Your 'throne of grace' and that I can obtain mercy and find grace to help me - I need only come to You.  

The Battle of WAIT

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1)  To everything there is a season, A time from every purpose under heaven:
2)  A time to be born.  And a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 
3)  A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down.  And a time to build up; 
4)  A time to weep, and a time to laugh;  A time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
5)  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones  A time to embrace, and a time to refrain 
         from embracing. 
6)  A time to gain, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7)  A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
8)  A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.    

I have been thinking a lot about seasons and purpose and I must admit that some seasons are easier to walk through than others.  I have mentioned this before and it seems to be a constant refrain for me, but I am in a season called, WAIT.  

WAIT:  STAY (PUT), REMAIN, REST, STOP, HALT, PAUSE, LINGER.

I find that I am not a very good 'wait-er.'  To be.  I am struggling here greatly.  I am recognizing that I am and have been a do-er not a be-er or a wait-er.  Now to be a do-er is not wrong as long as I am doing according to what God is leading and doing it with all my strength for Him.

God is reminding me that my job is to 'know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor -- it is the gift of God.'  (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)  

I am not content where I am and I am struggling with thankfulness, though I have much to be thankful for.  I do not know what God is trying to teach me other than TRUST IN HIM and WAIT ON HIM.  I need to be thankful, I want to be thankful but deep inside I hurt and I wonder and therefore I am not very thankful, not really.  I compare myself to what I have been and where and I find that while knowing I should not do this I do it and this then breed discontent and a struggle to wait.  I know the answers and I know the should(s) but I am having a hard time applying them.

Psalm 25:4-5
4)  Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.  
5)  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.  

Psalm 32:8, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.  

Psalm 119:133, Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by any evil.  

John 8:32, And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.  

I want to be set free and I want to walk on His path for me and yet I say that and I do not like this path He has me on right now... just saying.  I want more.  I feel like Solomon as he struggled through the question of what matters and what is meaningless.  God is making me face all those things that I pushed aside to get married and raise my kids and now I am back to me...who I am and what is my purpose.  I am just being honest with you about the struggle and is it a struggle that just seems to keep going on and on.

So is studying Ecclesiastes I have found that I must set my mind to rejoicing - to being thankful...moment by moment and even for the 'wait' maybe even especially for the wait.  I don't understand it, I don't like it and I worry about what others think as well; however still I must wait.  This is my battle and this is my season.

Father God, I need Your forgiveness for the lack of thankfulness in my heart.  You have so blessed me and yet rather than be thankful and rejoice in You I dwell on the struggle, forgive me.  Change my heart and bring about lasting change in my attitude.  I understand that You want me to wait, that You want me to be; however truthfully I do not understand what it needs to look like and therefore this is the agony.  Give me eyes to see You and ears to hear.  You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom (Ps. 51:6).  Make me hear joy and gladness again.  (Ps. 51:8)  Lord, please create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ps. 51:10).  God, change my mind and the way that I think.  May I submit to You and rest in You.  I know that I am making 'this' so hard and yet I do not know how to be any other way.  Please God show me Your truth and set me free.  Forgive me for giving in to the cares of this world and worrying over things that You have already handled.  Help me to give up all ideas of 'control' and be willing to really truly know You and Your peace, joy and hope in my daily life.  I am sorry that I can't seem to learn what You are teaching me and I thank You for Your faithfulness to never ever give up on me.  Show me Your ways in the moment by moment and give me Your strength to obey.  

Lord, help me to follow along...

The line to a song jumped out at me the other day..."You are gonna move, how You are gonna move today, help me to follow along."

Absolutely!  Exactly!  God is at work and I want to join Him in His work not try to make my own work.  Much easier said than done, I know, trust me.

Psalm 25:4-5, "Show me Your ways, O LORD;  Teach me Your paths.  Lead me in Your truth and teach me.  For You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day."  

LORD:  SHOW ME...TEACH ME...LEAD ME..TEACH ME...I WAIT.
YOUR WAYS...YOUR PATHS...YOUR TRUTH...YOU ARE GOD...MY SALVATION...ON YOU...ALL THE DAY!

I so want to be shown His ways, taught His paths and to be lead in His truth - He is the God of my salvation and I will wait on Him.  Father, while I want to be shown Your ways, increase my 'want-er', please.  Help me to truly be teachable and to learn Your Word so that I can be lead in Your truth.  I praise You that You are the God, the LORD and master of my salvation!  I declare that I will wait on You all the day - and I ask that when I forget to wait or I try to take control once again (I know myself;) that You, Father with get my attention and again show me Your ways, teach me Your paths, lead me in Your truth and make me teachable.

Psalm 143:8,  "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You."

Father, I know the ability to hear Your lovingkindness comes from You so I ask that You would cause me to be able to hear loud and clear.  Please remove from my mind the typical distractions that I fight with and enable me to trust You, fully trust You.  Cause, make it so, me to know the way in which I should walk...for I do lift my soul up to You.  Cleanse me and purify me, make me whole and give me ears to hear.  I thank You for the promise of Your Word and Your ability to keep Your promises.  

I think about the word lovingkindness.  A compound word of two words, loving and kindness.  It is mind blowing really to think about.  God's love is beyond loving and it is kind as well and His kindness is beyond kind it is loving as well!  Am I the only one who is consistently blown away by the fact that God is always above and beyond in EVERYTHING???  And by the mere fact that He allows me to experience Him personally...to have an intimate relationship where He is enabling me to know Him!  He is so good!!!  Isn't He!!!

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Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct You and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."  

Isaiah 30:21, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."

Isaiah 58:11, "The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones, you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

John 16:13, "When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

John 14:8, "Jesus said, 'I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

John 8:32, "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free."
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Look at the Truth of His Word...
He takes the responsibility to instruct me and lead me where I should go.  The LORD Who Sees knows where to guide me - all the time.

He says my ears will hear a word behind me telling me which way to walk.  He will straighten out my paths when I go to the right or the left.

He promises to guide me CONTINUALLY and beyond that to satisfy my soul and strengthen my bones. When I am in drought (when I feel like I cannot go on) He will satisfy my soul (not necessarily change my circumstances), strengthen my bones to the point that I am like a watered garden and even more a spring whose waters never fail!  Think about that!  He renews me from the inside out until I am bubbling over like a never-ending spring!  Oh, God, I so want the truth of this in my life!  Forgive me for relying on me, not listening to You and not allowing You to satisfy my soul because I am too focused on trying to hear!!!  You do not say that I have to work hard to hear but that You will allow me to hear!!!

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who lives inside of me!  Thank You that He will guide me into all Truth!  Thank You for revealing Yourself to me as the Way, the Truth and the Life so that I can have a personal, intimate relationship with You!  Help me to know Your Truth and be set free!  Give me ears to hear (Matthew 11:15).  I do pray that I will be obedient and walk in Your ways.  I know You are at work, help me to join You where You are and not worry about the rest.  I praise You and thank You for Your plans and Your purposes for me.  You know every detail and You are fully in control.  Increase my trust, Father, in the dailyness of my life.  May I quietly wait on Your salvation, Your direction for my days and be still and know that You are my God.  I declare that You are who You say You are and that what You say about me is true!  I am loved.  I am accepted.  I am forgiven.  Thank You for Your faithfulness, that is Great!  I praise You because You alone are worthy to be praised.  May I praise You with my actions as well as my Words.  Use me, however You chose...