 WAIT in QUIET PATIENCE!
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8 I must admit my comfort zone is not the happiest or safest place to be in. Only in the center of God's will is there safety, security, real happiness and perfect peace. I know this! So what is the problem?! How am I missing the obvious? Oh how I (we) need wisdom. In the midst of so many uncertain circumstances, wisdom from on high can heighten our awareness of present or impending distress. At these times we are most vulnerable and we can only glean this Wisdom from God. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." James 3:17 Our Heavenly Father knew the struggles we would have with our thoughts and emotions and that is why the scriptures are so vital to our lives. He knew how difficult it would be for us to be the " ideal us." Our inner voice that so readily and constantly speaks to us must align with God's word for our behavior to then line up with actions that make us into the masterpiece that God designed. So... after much introspection and welcomed instruction from God's word, I confess that the problem lies within me! "For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness -my sinful capacity.] For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not." Romans 7:18 Amplified It is not deliberate acts but those "little foxes" that so easily creep into life. Like failing to wait patiently and quietly for God's voice and His direction, and then waiting in faith and praying for God to reveal His truth because He promises to guide us into all truth. Then, we can wait quietly expecting His intervention. I read a statement that caused me to pause, "Untrusting and unfaithful waiting is an insult to our Lord." I am so realizing that my life with all it complexities is to be spread out before the feet of Jesus. I use the words spread out instead of lay out purposefully because surrendering to Him dictates my spreading it all out with nothing hidden and no selfish agenda. I have come to the end of myself! Thank the Lord! Matthew Henry writes: "When God is coming towards us with His favors we must go forth to meet Him with our praise." His gracious favors have absolutely been bestowed on me! How naturally, lovingly, and with unstaggering confidence in Him should I go forth to meet Him with praise. "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
I am going to proceed with resolution of heart in the strength of this verse! To be of good courage is not to despair and as I make a personal effort to be strong and my lips filled with praise, He will be strengthening my heart as He promised. Why have I allowed myself to be so complacent and not recognize it sooner? It is only because of sin. Sin will always separate us from God. In my heart I will sing: "My heart is fixed, O God my heart is fixed: I will sing and give you praise." Psalm 57:7 As I was writing this blog, even before the final draft, God intervened through a godly person to move me ever so gently from my comfort zone. To experience God's hand reaching down even as I was writing filled me with amazement and a heart full of thankfulness. God's amazing grace heard the cry of my heart! The Lord used a preacher/friend to nudge me forward in a most unexpected way. Was it difficult? Yes! Was I a failure? Somewhat! Embarrassed? Definitely! Do I know why I botched it? Not Yet! Will I give up? No! Will I try again? Only through the Grace of God upholding me! Philippians 4:13 tells me: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." As I resign to do God's will, often in waiting, I will be asking Him to remind me if I neglect to acknowledge His presence and my daily walk with Him. I am, of all people, indebted to the goodness of God. So... "Our (my) eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until He has mercy upon us (me)." Psalm 123:2 "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and 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." Psalm 40; 1-3  Have I got this? I know I have Him! I am clinging to the only hope I have, Jesus Christ. My grandmother and my mother have so often said how the devil knew he could not get their soul but worked hard to get their mind. I’m finding it so vital to hold every thought captive. "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 As I continue on this journey of life, I will ask the Father to banish from my recollection everything that is untrue, unhealthy, or of no value and ask that He not allow me to try and wiggle my way out of His unrelenting watchful eye over me. May He settle truth in my heart, clarity to my muddled thinking and peace to my disconcerted heart. We are called to be a light but how can we shine if we allow "stuff" to dim our glow? I read once that we have no oil well springing up from inside us; even in happy times we cannot give the light of the Lord unless we are given the "fresh oil of grace" from Him. The" oil of grace" which is joy, truth, love, holiness and knowledge. These qualities are all beams of His Holy Light and we can never obscure the darkness until we-personally- in private, receive the oil from the Holy Spirit. In closing, I must say that I (we) need to be daily aware of the fact that a frizzy of emotions will greet me (us) each morning and recognize that my (our) heart is vulnerable to all kinds of extremes and my (our) only defense is a prepared heart! As the demands of the day hover I (we) must be reminded to early reverence our Heavenly Father, acknowledge His presence, listen for His voice and desire the "Oil of Grace" to fill our thirsty souls so we can carry His light. "The external world is always in flux-under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of peace deep with in you, waiting to be tapped." ~ Sarah Young "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14  May I wait in quiet patience and expectation and allow the Lord to fill-up my idle moments with thanksgiving and praise to Him. He is worthy!!! In His love, Judy Ingle The deadline for the Restore Retreat for women is Monday, September 18, 2017. If you are considering coming, today is it! There are one or two more rooms available. Click here to register!
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