Waiting...

Sarah gave me a present today, but I think I'm not going to open it until Christmas morning, no matter how much I want to. I will wait...(although I suspect it might be the Allo Allo DVD I've had my eye on for some time...)

I've stayed in almost all day today, studying, even though it's been a lovely day and I wanted to go out. But I can wait. It will make it so much more worth while when I do finally get to go out.

Yesterday Matthew spoke briefly in the morning, a thoughtful sermon on the importance of waiting. We're told to wait in obedience, to wait while maintaining love and justice, and to be still, quiet and patient. And being still requires alot of trust.

Those who wait will be heard, will renew their strength, will not be disappointed, will see His goodness in the land of the living, will inherit the land, and will have His name and renown as the desire of their hearts!

Matthew quoted from a book he'd been reading about waiting:

"Waiting is our destiny, as creatures who cannot by themselves bring about the outcome they hope for."

"In the Old Testament, waiting is so closely associated with faith that sometimes the two words are used interchangeably."

"What God does in us while we wait is as important as what we're waiting for."

"In God's will there can be an end to some times of waiting, or the blessing of endurance to wait some more."

It seems as though waiting, like hope, is slightly tinged with sadness; we do not have what we hope for. But waiting in itself may teach me more about the Giver than getting His gifts.

And so I will wait. I trust Him and I'm thankful for where He has put me. I want to grow. Most of all I pray that He will make me a woman whose heart He delights in! Give me the grace to wait... to wait in stillness, to wait in prayer, to wait on You. : )