Tag: #Focus

Devotional

New Beginnings: Part 4 of 5

kathrynhugheswriter

Focus on Waiting With Hope

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to sit quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV

A friend gave me a sticker that reads “Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.” I put it on my water bottle to remind me to wait with praise and with hope, and not with complaining.

In this “New Beginnings” series we’re focusing on God by reading Scripture to see Him for who He really is. We’re praying to the Lord who answers. We’re asking Jesus to help us remove distractions and the sin that keeps us from connecting with Him. Yet sometimes we don’t know what God wants us to do next, or we may be struggling with something. Another discipline of the Christian walk is waiting.

Waiting is difficult. Our culture expects things rapidly. We have fast food and microwave ovens, quick computers and internet speeds, and instant gratification in so many areas of life. But the Lord often doesn’t work instantly, nor do we quickly become like Him. Answered prayers and guidance may take time. How do we praise Him in the hallway? How do we wait?

We wait with HOPE.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV

We can wait with hope because of the LORD’s great love for us. As we dig into Scripture and review His actions in our lives and especially consider Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for us, we will come to know His love. It is because of His great love that we are not consumed by the eternal punishment for sin. As we trust in God and His great love for us, things in life don’t consume us. He is faithful.

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24 NIV

The LORD is our inheritance. He is our promise – and God keeps His promises. We wait for our inherited eternity with Him, but we also inherit the promises that are for us now.

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him…” Lamentations 3:25 NIV

Our hope is certain and expectant because it is based on who the Lord is and on the truth of His word. We wait, but not by wasting our time pursuing worthless things. We wait while seeking the Lord. We can see His goodness in what He does, His creation, His character, His promises, His commands, and all through Scripture.

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26 NKJV

It is good to sit quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:26 NIV

Sit quietly? I don’t know about you, but I tend to be over-committed and overly busy. God says it is good to sit quietly for His salvation. There’s an implied peace in sitting quietly. Instead of tapping our foot waiting for God to act or fidgeting with distractions, hope in God offers rest in the waiting. Jesus told us “Come to Me…and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30) I need that rest. Do you?

Let’s quiet our souls. Let’s wait expectantly, assured the God will bring about His plans and His promises for us. Let’s wait with hope.

Dear Lord, I’m thankful that Your steadfast love never ceases. Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Thank you. I praise You, even when waiting. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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Thank you for joining me and for reading my devotional blogs. Blogs usually post every other Thursday. Past devotionals are available on my website for your convenience. I pray this will be a time of growth in Jesus for you and for me.

Devotional

New Beginnings: Part 3 of 5

kathrynhugheswriter

Focus on Planning

A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Welcome to my devotional blog. In this series we are looking at some new or renewed beginnings that can be part of our walk with the Lord. We’ve considered a clearer focus on God by looking at who He really is in Scripture without the distortions or the distractions that might skew our focus on Him (Part One).

We’ve focused on prayer being part of our daily lives, for when we talk with God and read and hear from Him through His word we have a closer relationship with our heavenly Father (Part Two).

Let’s focus on planning.

What does planning have to do with our walk with God?

When we plan what we want to study in Scripture, it can keep us focused and on track. Let’s ask God what He wants us to study in Scripture and be open to His guidance. Consider a book of the Bible, a topic, an attribute of God, a Bible study, or a devotional. We can write down what we plan to study next and even later on. There may be Bible studies or devotionals on our computer or shelves still waiting to be read or reread.

I often have more than one topic or book of the Bible on my plan because of the sermons and lessons in Sunday School that I hear, my devotional writing, and Biblical application in lessons I’m teaching to my students. Having a written plan helps me know what I am to focus on when I open my Bible.

Committing to a certain time to spend time with God in prayer and Bible reading also helps us to stay consistent. 

Planning doesn’t stop with our Bible reading. Let’s ask God where and what He wants to work on in our lives. We can plan, but we want the Lord God to direct our steps. He has the best plans for us! When we seek Him with all of our hearts, He reveals Himself to us. We can know Him better than we ever have before!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

Let’s commit to spending time in the Scriptures and in prayer to God. A written plan may help guide us. As we focus on the Lord, and on our relationship with Him through Bible reading and prayer, He will make Himself known to us.

Let’s ask the Lord to direct our steps and to work in our lives. Let’s give the Lord our planners and our lives and ask Him to show us what He desires for us. Let’s lay our hopes, dreams, and plans before the Lord.

Are we ready to follow His plan?

Dear Lord God, Thank you for Your Sovereign plans for me. Thank you for making Yourself known to me as I seek You and submit to Your will for me. Help me to focus on You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Photo by Anuja Tilj on Pexels.com

Planner photo (top) by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

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I hope you are enjoying this devotional series, New Beginnings. Devotionals post every other Thursday, and are archived by month for your convenience.

I would love to hear from you. Is there a devotional topic you are looking for or that has impacted you?

God bless you.

Kathryn