A Joyous Journey: Devotions from the Book of Psalms

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There is a Whole Lot of Waiting in the Bible

There are two bowls of cereal on the table waiting for the grandsons to sit down for breakfast. There isn't milk on the cereal yet. Who wants soggy cereal? Right? As I stand at the refrigerator door about to get the milk out, I tell them that breakfast is ready. Both of the boys run into the kitchen and sit down at the table. Do the kiddos see me about to get the milk out of the refrigerator? You would think so but no, both of them start asking where the milk is. Why does this happen? It's called instant gratification, or I want what I want NOW!

What does the Bible say about instant gratification? I know the Bible doesn't say instant gratification, but it does say to wait. It says that a LOT. 

My quick Google search for, "How many times is wait in the Bible"  revealed this factoid from Quora.com,

" ...there are at least 7 words in Hebrew and Greek that can be translated "wait"... (a Bible) word search for "wait" results in 106 hits."

There is a whole lot of waiting in the Bible. 

• Adam and Eve waited on God to visit them
• Miriam waited for Pharoh's daughter to find Moses.
• The Israelites waited for 40 years in the wilderness.
• Samson had to wait for his hair to grow out.
• Jacob worked and waited for Leah for seven years. 
• Abraham waited for a son for years and years. 
• Noah waited for the flood and waited for the water to recede.
• David waited for years to become king. He even wrote about waiting while he was waiting. 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD          Psalm 27:13-14

I'm seeing a theme here. How about you? I know it's hard to be patient and wait. As a believer in Jesus, I am fixing my focus on the future and I will try to wait patiently on the LORD.  Now, to try and get the grandsons to wait patiently on the milk for their cereal!

Standing on Psalm 91

Bill and I have adopted Psalm 91 to stand on as the world goes through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pray this scripture prayer with us.

Psalm 91 Prayer

The LORD is my refuge and my fortress. I will trust Him. He will keep me from the traps of Satan and from the perilous pestilence. He will cover me with His feathers and keep me under his wings. His truth will be my shield and buckler. I will not be afraid of the terror by night. I will not be afraid of the pestilence that walks in darkness. I will not be afraid of the destruction that lays waste even if thousands fall by my side and ten thousand falls by my right. I will not be touched. I will watch with my eyes and see the reward of the wicked. Because I have taken refuge with the LORD, no evil shall befall me, nor will any plague come near my home. God has given His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. The angels will bear me up so that I will not injure myself. I will keep God on high because he has set his love on me and he has known my name. He shall call on me and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will live a long life for him. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior. Amen. 

Psalm 91

1. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
4. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler
5. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 
8. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 
9. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 
10. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 
11. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name.
15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Faith Times Three : An Acrostic Poem

Full of love and adoration for the Lord

Adore Jesus Christ and his sacrifice

In a relationship with a living God

Testifying about the Good News

Honoring the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Finding a strength beyond myself

Acknowledging my weakness - to accept His strength 

Invisible belief without physical proof

Trials are no longer to be feared

Help and healing are mine to receive, as long as I believe

Faith in the Bible as written

Announcing God's Glory to all

Intent on following the narrow path

Telling Jesus all my troubles, listening to the Holy Spirit, appealing to the God of all

Helping and encouraging my brothers and sisters in faith

©2014 Sallee Bonham

A Motorcycle Ride Lifted Our Spirits!

The hubby and I took a motorcycle ride Tuesday. 

Bill asked me if I could plan a route that would keep us in the rural areas. I did just that. 

My spirits lifted as we rode through the twisting turns of Highway 42 that took us through valleys and along ridge tops. One word kept coming to my mind, GREEN - emerald green grass, yellow-green tree buds, and every other shade of green. Then there is the purple-red beauty of flowering redbud trees that flourish in the rocky soil that flanks our roadways. I found myself wanting to be able to take pictures with my eyes that I could download later of particularly beautiful sights - the section of road on Highway 17 where the oaks tried to meet overhead and blooming redbud trees lined the roadside; the coyote that dashed across the road: the scenic view that greeted our eyes as we topped a ridge and saw gently rounded, green hilltops stretching out for miles. 

God sure knew what he was doing when he created this world! 

Not once did I think about COVID-19 as Bill and I followed each other through the rural, scenic beauty that announced spring has arrived. It was a much needed mental health day that focused our attention on God the Creator. When we returned home, we both were relaxed and smiling. 

Thank you, Lord, for giving us a day like this! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3