Wait on the Lord

 Wait on the Lord

“Make your ways known to me, LORD; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth my salvation; I wait for you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

In order for me to learn the Lord’s ways I must unlearn mine. The good news is that the Lord understands my waywardness in this process and is ready and willing to meet me every step of the way. What is even better is that God tells me that none of it is done on my own but only when I allow Him to do the work.

If it was just that easy. Once I make that decision to live in a way that is opposite of mine it will be daily asking the Lord, “Give me a lifestyle that reflects Jesus.” And the enemy will fight against this heart posture and remembrance of this every single day.

I will never forget when I began to grasp what it meant to live for Jesus. I was sleeping one night to encounter a nightmare so real it makes me shudder when I look back. My college days are full of times I know the Lord has graciously saved me from consequences I should have received. But as much as He has spared me from that “old life” it left marks that the enemy just loves to remind me of. And this particular nightmare had me as the star in the movie that played before my eyes in situations that I had put myself in and played out in a way that I couldn't dismiss. As much as I wanted to stop this bad movie I couldn’t.  Then came a voice. “Look at you. God could never forgive you.” Even as I was in my nightmare I knew that mocking voice wasn’t the voice of my Father. I sat up from that nightmare and said out loud, “I have been covered by Jesus you don’t own me I belong to Jesus.” That was the last time I had that nightmare but it wasn’t the last time the enemy tried to bring up my past. 

“Remember, LORD, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, LORD.” Psalm 25:6-7

David remembered. God’s forgiveness is His Character. He forgives us because that is what His promise has been all along. He says, “I have removed your sin as far as the east from the west.” I have scattered it. That is what I heard today and I love that picture. Because so many times I want to gather all the wrongs and keep holding on them allowing that to direct the way I think. God tells me to release them. 

So what are you waiting for? Dependence on the Lord is relying on His compassion and faithful love to meet us in those very places the enemy is hoping we will hide away in.

Father,

Mercy is waiting and his name is Jesus. We deserve so much but you tell us it was taken care of when we began a new life in you Jesus. Nothing we could ever repay a free gift because of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Help us to release what is holding us back from knowing our freedom wasn’t based on what we have done. The cross was meant for us so that we can wait and see all that you have for us. Waiting upon you gives us freedom to live in a way that says, “ I trust you.” thank you Jesus..