Today's Encouraging Word

I have not hid they righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and they salvation; and I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great assembly.  Psalm 40:11

God never ceases to amaze me.  When I am open to Him, to the lessons and the gifts He has for me - I see such an abundance.

When I grouse and complain, negativity abounds and it seems God is far away.

I'd rather be open.  It's easier!  What a selfish reason!  But oh, how I am blessed.

With the news that my husband's cancer may be returning, we are once again playing the waiting game.  It  seems to be something we do a lot.  Simply wait and see.  I'm getting better at fretting about it.  But I am still impatient as we wait.  I want to know.

I have heard that the thing human beings handle least well is ambiguity.  Not knowing.  I'd have to agree.

So - God is talking to me about waiting.  And not only waiting - but waiting patiently.  Ugh.  Patience again.  And not only waiting patiently - but being productive and praising Him while we wait.

My eyes almost glaze over at the thought!

Yet, I see the truth in it.

I had a great Rest Ministries devotional waiting for me in my inbox this morning.  The topic?  Waiting ... and waiting patiently.  

Ok God, I thought.  I can see Your hand in this one.

Then, as I went to my Bible reading this morning (I cannot stress enough how reading a portion of the Psalms each morning has added to my relationship with God), I ran across these verses.  

I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined unto me, and heart my cry.  

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And  He set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God;  Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in the Lord.  (Psalm 40:1-3 ASV)

So, the challenge before me (and I believe the challenge before each of us), is to wait - to wait patiently - and to look for all the reasons we have to praise God.  Not only for what He has done - but for what He will do.

A new song ... Yes, I'd rather a new song than grumbling and complaining and fearing.  

What a difficult lesson!

But it is one that we can learn when we let God lead and teach.

What is your new song?

For today, mine is that God is faithful.  

And we wait.