Week 1, Day 4
Waiting on the Lord
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
(Psalm 62:5,6)
I’ll never forget encountering these verses from Psalm 62. I’d read this psalm many times before, but not yet in this way. This particular day, my heart was heavy with pain and desperately seeking the Lord’s comfort and direction. Eyes searching through tears, it was as if these words leapt off the page and my heart reached out to meet them halfway! Through the Word of God, the Spirit of God stirred in me simultaneously a hope and a longing - an encouragement and a sacred invitation - into a deeper place in Him than I’d yet known. I realized the power and peace of waiting on the Lord - of being still and meditating on His Word.
It’s life-giving to my heart to reflect on a passage or even one verse of Scripture asking the Holy Spirit to teach me - to give me greater understanding - and to make that truth a reality in my life. Reading it over and over, I meditate on it as I listen for what the Lord may say to me. Practicing stillness in His Presence, I wait in silence. My heart is fortified in that silence. My soul is nourished by His Word like nothing else. Waiting on the Lord in silence and meditating on His word shapes my heart and enlarges my perspective. As I move from that place of intentional stillness, I carry with me - by writing it down or putting on my phone - any word or verse that was highlighted to me. I refer back to it throughout the day and often it assimilates into my heart.
Being still and silent in the Lord’s presence is a discipline and can feel counterintuitive to our culture of noise - all our goings and doings. But, prioritizing these “sabbath” moments in our days is an expression of deep trust. These moments shape me, nourish me and make all the difference in how I walk and talk. Oswald Chambers exhorts: “Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”
Yes! I believe every public thing in our lives is a reflection of how much or how little we truly wait on the Lord. As we practice being still and waiting on Him - meditating on His Word and being shaped and nourished in His presence - we discover access to that same place of stillness in our hearts right in the middle of whatever chaos the day may throw at us.
(Psalm 62:5,6)
I’ll never forget encountering these verses from Psalm 62. I’d read this psalm many times before, but not yet in this way. This particular day, my heart was heavy with pain and desperately seeking the Lord’s comfort and direction. Eyes searching through tears, it was as if these words leapt off the page and my heart reached out to meet them halfway! Through the Word of God, the Spirit of God stirred in me simultaneously a hope and a longing - an encouragement and a sacred invitation - into a deeper place in Him than I’d yet known. I realized the power and peace of waiting on the Lord - of being still and meditating on His Word.
It’s life-giving to my heart to reflect on a passage or even one verse of Scripture asking the Holy Spirit to teach me - to give me greater understanding - and to make that truth a reality in my life. Reading it over and over, I meditate on it as I listen for what the Lord may say to me. Practicing stillness in His Presence, I wait in silence. My heart is fortified in that silence. My soul is nourished by His Word like nothing else. Waiting on the Lord in silence and meditating on His word shapes my heart and enlarges my perspective. As I move from that place of intentional stillness, I carry with me - by writing it down or putting on my phone - any word or verse that was highlighted to me. I refer back to it throughout the day and often it assimilates into my heart.
Being still and silent in the Lord’s presence is a discipline and can feel counterintuitive to our culture of noise - all our goings and doings. But, prioritizing these “sabbath” moments in our days is an expression of deep trust. These moments shape me, nourish me and make all the difference in how I walk and talk. Oswald Chambers exhorts: “Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”
Yes! I believe every public thing in our lives is a reflection of how much or how little we truly wait on the Lord. As we practice being still and waiting on Him - meditating on His Word and being shaped and nourished in His presence - we discover access to that same place of stillness in our hearts right in the middle of whatever chaos the day may throw at us.
Reflection Questions
• What does your public life indicate about your private times with God?
• What changes could you make as we study the life of Joseph together to facilitate a posture of waiting on the Lord?
• What changes could you make as we study the life of Joseph together to facilitate a posture of waiting on the Lord?
Emily serves on staff at Heritage giving oversight to our efforts in missions, pastoral care, prayer, and communications. She loves kids, leading mission trips, iced coffee, being in the Storehouse Family, playing pickleball and hanging out with her family.
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The time spent in the secret place with God, reflects in how I interact with the public, with a caring,serving joyful attitude and posture of kindness, it's all Jesus Christ within me, it gives me that sound mind and peace and reassurance that all is well and he is with me. My friend, father and protector, God within will always reflect outwardly.