September Notes!

Questions to begin with: how was your summer. What is one thing you are so happy you got to do this summer? What was your favorite summertime snack?! What is one thing you really wished you could have done, but didn’t get to do? What is one thing that you look forward to doing before the end of the year?

Waiting.

What kind of things do we wait for in life? birthdays, Christmas, a dog, a sibling, a baby!, a car, dinner!, break from school, the weekend, vacation, answers to prayer...

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! -Psalm 27:14

~Amplified: Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

~the Message: I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.

~NET: Rely on the Lord! be strong and confident! rely on the Lord!

Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious - Andrew Murray. 

If it doesn’t come down, then something’s up! - Beth Moore. God is always up to something good. He wants a relationship with us. Wants us to rely on Him more and more. His calendar might be different than ours, but it’s to teach us more of His character! We need more of God!

Individuals in the Bible who had to wait/trust God: Joseph (waiting to be remembered while in prison, Genesis 41:1, 2 years! he chose not to become bitter. trusted that God meant it all for good), Daniel (as he prayed in chapter 10... waited for God’s answer to his prayer... 21 days). Ruth (as she waited to receive word from Boaz in Ruth 3:16-18). When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “And how did things go, my dear daughter?” Ruth told her everything that the man had done for her, adding, “And he gave me all this barley besides—six quarts! He told me, ‘You can’t go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law!’” Naomi said, “Sit back and relax, my dear daughter, until we find out how things turn out; that man isn’t going to fool around. Mark my words, he’s going to get everything wrapped up today.” -Ruth 3:16-18, the Message. Mary and Martha (John 11:40, Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? They did not understand why Jesus waited so long, or how He allowed Lazarus to die. His presence could have stopped it all, but He didn’t come until several days later. If they believed, they would see. We will not always understand. He does not expect us to. He asks us to TRUST).

Patience! how we all need more patience! it is finding something else to do in the meantime. 

So, what is at the root of not wanting to WAIT? Could it be greed, worry, jealousy and discontentment? Why does our culture feed so much on complaining? You will face disappointment in this life; we all will. It’s what we do with those feelings of disappointment that matters! The next time you are overwhelmed, put into practice gratitude. Do this by stopping and putting your focus on God. Thank Him for 5 things right then. Aim to make it a habit to be thankful and to see God’s hand at work in your life! 

What do I believe about God that is not true? What do I believe about myself that is not true? Satan lies to us, and attaches FEAR to those lies. Fear and lies can talk us into just about anything. Choose obedience. How did Nehemiah handle fear? Nehemiah 6:9b, 13-14 prayer for strength. Ask God to remember. Hebrews 4:14-16

“The people who know their God will display strength and take action.” – Daniel 11:32b

We’ll never outgrow our need to wait on Him. He always wants us to be dependent on Him! God always calls us to wait on Him!

“If you are in the cocoon of waiting right now in some area of your life, please remember that Jesus is allowing you to wait so that His greater purposes may be served. He has not forgotten about you, nor has He become more consumed with other things. He is still in control. You must believe that and rest firmly in His promises in Scripture that declare this truth. Don’t focus on the fact that you are waiting. Rather, focus your attention on the reason you are waiting. Changing your perspective can change everything!” ~And We Are Changed, p. 42 by Priscilla Shirer

Place {it} in Jesus' hands and let Him do something good and beautiful with it. He makes all things beautiful in His time! He's got us! He won't let us miss out on His best - whatever that is! Psalm 84:11~ no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly!

End by reading this story from Priscilla’s blog on appreciating and living in the season where God has placed you.

May you be encouraged and strengthened as you wait upon the Lord!