Morning Devotional

One of the perks of working at a Christian college is the environment; full of grace, compassion, iron sharpening iron...

In addition, there are morning devotions.  My department has a weekly devotions time on Tuesday mornings and all of the employees take turns leading.  I have to be honest--I don't make it to devotions every Tuesday.  I'm just not a morning person; sometimes it takes me a while to get my brain functioning (even with coffee).  

This past Tuesday however, I did make it into the conference room on time and I think it was a total God thing.  The topic of the morning's devotional was waiting.  Waiting is something I have a tough time with (just ask Hubs).  I always want things done right away.  There is no time like the present- that's my motto.

Unfortunately for me, God has me waiting on a lot of things right now.  For four years (but really since my college days ended) I've been waiting to graduate with my master's degree.  Thankfully, that date is now set and it is edging ever closer.  But there are so many other things I'm waiting on-- Things that tend to bog me down.  I'm waiting anxiously to have enough funds to fix our rusty water main, I'm waiting for the Bible messages I teach on Sunday mornings to break through the STARS developmental barriers, I'm waiting to see if I'll ever be able to have a child I can call my own, I'm waiting for the end of human trafficking, I'm waiting for...

The following devotional was written by Jill Briscoe in April of 2010 (Jill Briscoe, wife of author Stuart Briscoe).  It really touched my heart.

{waiting}

A meditation from the book of Habakkuk “How long Oh Lord?” 1:2

Waiting for the dawn to dawn when night is long and black,

Waiting for a heart to heal or a kid to get on track.

Waiting for delay to end and wishes to come true,

Waiting for a sight or sense of You.

Waiting for the one who left to find the way back home,

Waiting for this sense of loss to leave my heart alone,

Waiting, wondering, hurting, in a hole of pain so deep,

Waiting for just one good night of sleep.

Waiting for an answer, for evidence that You care,

Waiting for employment, for just one answered prayer.

One small affirmation for freedom from self doubt

Waiting for a way to work it out.

Waiting for the Bible to start and make some sense

I’m sick of my ambivalence, and sitting on this fence.

Waiting for a promise that truth will have its way

For justice to win out once grace filled day.

Waiting for a world that’s deaf, to hear You and repent.

Waiting for the human race to believe the One you sent

To save forgive equip to live in holiness and power

Waiting for salvation in this hour.

Waiting for the violence and the conflict that abounds

The wrong You seem to tolerate, the injustice that’s around

To stop, because You intervene and answer desperate prayer:

Waiting just to know You’re waiting there.

But Lord the waiting’s killing me, I cry to You for peace,

To still the storm inside me and make all this turmoil cease.

Help me to remember as I try to do my part,

How patiently You waited for my heart.

You waited for repentance that was Your perfect due,

You waited out resentment and my anger aimed at You.

You waited in the shadows and You offered me Your hand,

To strengthen me to wait it out and stand.

So however long the waiting lasts: as long as You decide,

I’ll stand upon my watchtower and I’ll climb my mountainside,

And I’ll ask you Lord for ‘hind’s feet’ and my soul will render praise,

As You and I will wait for better days.

Though fig tree does not bud and though no cattle in the stall,

Though donkeys and the sheepfold have no company at all

Yet see my heart oh Sovereign God, rejoicing in your grace:

Content to wait it out and see your face.

From Everlasting to Everlasting

This morning, these are the words that I needed to hear from the Lord that I love:


Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Psalm 103:1-20 NIV