Wait- Expect

Psalms 62:5 (NKJV)
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.



Silence??? What's that? I have found that life with 3 boys is not a quiet one. As I read this Psalm, it woke me up to the fact that we can get extremely busy doing nothing at all. Sometimes our expectations for God are based on how quickly we can get things done, and how busy we are. God does not operate like that.  STOP!  Find a quiet spot to daily get in the word and quietly let God renew your soul. 

I expect God to do something big in my life, marriage, ministry, and kids. I'm also done getting in HIS way. Time for me to wait- be silent- and expect
I can't wait to see what He will do next! If you need your soul renewed, then get with God and be renewed.

Claiming Refuge in God

Attitude Toward Evil

Psalm 91:5–10

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
 nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.

  In Psalm 91:1–4, the songwriter has acknowledged the Lord as his refuge when under attack by the forces of evil. Now in 91:5–10, he sizes up his enemy and calculates his (and our) chances of surviving the battle. (Spoiler alert: we stand a 100 percent chance of victory.)

  Beginning in verse 5, the songwriter makes a series of predictions about you, presuming that you have placed your trust in the Lord and you're coming to Him for refuge from the enemy. Here are his predictions.

  You will have no fear (91:5–6). Look over the descriptive terms that describe our enemy's tactics: terrors . . . arrow . . disease . . . disaster.  All these describe satanic and demonic assaults against us. Notice also that these assaults take place at any time of the day or night. Our enemy will stop at nothing to make us afraid! Intimidation is one of his sharpest darts of deception.

  But the psalmist assures that you won't be afraid because the truth of God's faithfulness will wrap itself around you like a warm blanket in winter. While the enemy relentlessly fires arrows in your direction, you're safely surrounded by the protection of God's fortress. The psalmist has you standing in a safe place, high above the range of the most powerful bowstring. You watch in complete peace as thousands of missiles fall pathetically to the ground before reaching you.

  Your faith will prevail, while others fall (91:7–10). I see faith written between each line, don't you? Our Lord expects us to stand firmly on His Word—His promises—His strength. Read Ephesians 6:10–11, 16 and you'll see that the "shield of faith" is able to deflect everything the evil one throws at you. Remember, faith demands an object. There are at least four specific biblical truths for the Christian to claim when undergoing or seeking release from satanic/demonic attacks.

We used to be neighbors!

ROMANS

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Our world has become a large, impersonal, busy place. We are alienated from each other. Although crowded, we are lonely. Pushed together but un-involved. No longer do most neighbors visit across the backyard fence. The well-done front lawn is the barrier that keeps weirdos at bay. Hoarding our stuff, and flaunting our toys have replaced sharing and caring. It's like we are occupying common space but have no common interests, it's as if we're on an elevator with rules such as: "No talking, smiling, or eye contact allowed without written consent of the management." 

Painful though it may be for us to admit, we're losing touch with one another. The motivation to help, to encourage, to serve our fellow human beings is a thing of the past. People have even observed crimes in progress but refused to help so they don't have to be involved! Our foundational values are getting lost in these confusing days. And yet, it is these things that form the essentials of a happy and fulfilling life.  

Remember that grand declaration of biblical assurance written in truth of Romans 8? I'm referring to verses 28–29, which read: 

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Maybe you've never before stopped to consider that God is committed to one major objective in the lives of all His people: to conform us to "the image of His Son."