Date: Sunday, June 15, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 37-41
Message Title: Resting With Expectation

Patience and waiting go hand in hand, while patience is enduring long suffering without complaining, waiting is resting with expectation. As Christians, we have great expectations of what God has in store for us, when those expectations seem to take longer than expected we can lose hope. When we start losing hope, we need to remind ourselves just how much God has done for us already, and He's not done with us. Instead of resting with expectation of what we want, rest in expectation of what God wants for us, once we figure that out, we will see God give us more than what we are asking. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:35,36.

Sometimes doing the will of God can be quite tricky, meaning, it can be hard to determine whether or not the things we are asking is in God's will. That is when we need to examine what we are expecting to see if there may be something we are seeking that He doesn't want for us. God will give us everything we desire as long it is not something that will hurt us or take us away from Him. The key to knowing and obtaining a quicker response, trust. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” - Psalm 37:3-5,7,8.

It is amazing what God will show us in just a few words. It scares me sometimes when I ask God His will for me only to realize I have been fretting over others being blessed, while I'm still waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I find myself second guessing myself, and while some things really are not in His will for us, the majority of the time God will give them to us in His timing and when we are ready for them. “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:16-19,23,24.

I love it, the instant we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ an accept Him as our Savior, He grabs hold of us and never lets us go, no matter how many times we fall. There is a saying something like this, “Those who try and fail, at least tried.” God knows we are going to fail from time to time, but he is right there to pick us back up, and then we will truly know if it is God's will for us. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

The flesh is weak and if we take our eyes off God for a second we will fall right into sin. David wrote many prayers regarding this. “I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.” - Psalm 39:2-4,6-9.

Even when we are saved, sin destroys us, it becomes a burden that takes a harsh toll on the mind, body, soul, and spirit, but thank God that we do not have to carry the burdens all on our own. Jesus will carry the burdens and give rest to anyone who calls on Him to help them, even something that one has been dealing with the guilt of their sin for years. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.

To make haste means to hurry, the second we go to God in prayer, whether it is to seek forgiveness of sins, a need, or a healing, God gets right on it. Now, it may seem as though He is not doing anything, but part of getting things right with God is having patience to endure the affliction as He is working. David knew this and while he did not always understand why he had to wait so long, he did understand that God had done some wonderful things in his life. “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.” - Psalm 40:5,11-13.

The truth is, God often waits until He gets the glory before He gives us the glory. If He gives us things so easily we would take the credit for it and get the glory, but if we do everything we can and patiently expect Him to do His part, than He gets the glory, who then gives us the glory. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” - 2 Corinthians 4:15-17.

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I love You and want to live my life in Your will, I know that all it would take is for me to take my eyes off you for a second to turn me into a self destructive mess. Lord, I know I am going to mess up sometimes, but do not let me forget all that You have done for me and what You have waiting for me as I patiently wait for You to work Your work in me. Give me Your power to have patience, help me to endure all my affliction, let me not be tempted to walk in my flesh, and give me Your grace to keep going when I want to give up. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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