Verse of the Day - Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
~ Psalm 40:1 (NLT)

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Two questions come to mind for me:

Do we really trust God to help us? And are we willing to wait for the answer?

Your view of God will determine your trust level...

If God is rather remote and distant, a spiritual being that you hear about in the church services and maybe pray to when you're in bind, but you really don't hold close...if God is that kind of God in your life, you won't trust Him to help you tie your shoes, let alone trust Him to meet your needs in the difficult trials of life, to give you wisdom to make right decisions, to be there as a friend. You lack intimacy with Him; therefore, you don't put your trust in Him. It's a relational issue, really. Just like your Aunt Whose-its, who lives in Nebraska, and who you only met once when you were five years old. Would you ask that relative for advice when you're under the gun at work, or struggling with an addiction, or needing advice about parenting? Of course not! You're not intimate with her. In fact, you'd have to spend the first ten minutes of the conversation reminding her of who you are!

Intimacy with God is best-friend stuff. It's honest and open. It's free-flowing and two-way. It's heart to heart and hand in hand. It's daily and eternal. And that's a person you will trust when you need help, when you're seeking wisdom, when you're lonely and need a friend.

And as for patience in the waiting when you do seek Him for help? Well...

How many times have you sought the Lord for something, but when you didn't get the answer you wanted in 37 minutes, you made your own plans to satisfy your needs? If you don't trust the man at the helm of the ferry ship, you will be pacing and grumbling and chomping at the bit when the boat is delayed and behind schedule. But if you really believe that the ship's captain has the knowledge to get you to safety and you don't, and that he will take whatever precautions are necessary to do his job right, even if that means passengers are delayed in their travels, then you are more likely to accept delays, knowing that you are in good hands -- the best hands for the job.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry...

Relational intimacy with God and confidence in His abilities made it possible for David to live out this Psalm. How about you? Are you far off with God, or up close? Confident in Him, or sketchy?

I pray you can draw near to Him today, sensing His closeness, and relying confidently in His ability to love and care for you.

Love,
Joelene