Mar 22, 2026 – Waiting
Simpson – “Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Heb iii.6). Simpson reminds us that, “The attitude of faith is simple trust…. We ask much from God, and when God proceeds to give it to us we are not found equal to His expectations. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, and trust Him through it all.”
Streams – Cowman uses Acts 7 and the account of Moses and the burning bush to comfort us in our waiting, “God is never in a hurry. He spends years preparing those He plans to greatly use, and never thinks of the days of preparation as being too long or boring. The most difficult ingredient of suffering is often time…. Without the grace of God, the heart is sure to sink into dismal despair…. yet He knows the specific amount of time that will be needed. Like a true goldsmith, God stops the fire the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal…. There is a reason behind every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will definitely come…. Don’t steal tomorrow from God’s hands.”
JC – “I do My greatest works through people with grateful, trusting, hearts. Rather than planning and evaluating, practice trusting and thank Me continually. This is a paradigm shift that will revolutionize your life.”
Prevail #81 – Using 2 Kings 4:3, Larson points out that, in the waiting, “Sometimes the situation in our lives is so desperate, we need to engage the faith and help of our friends…. You’re part of the family of the living God! Rise up and call your fiercest warriors. Borrow their faith. Ask them to gather on your behalf with open hands and full expectancy that God will move as you seek Him together…. What is you borrowed faith jars from your friends and you all asked God to fill them on your behalf? …Your jars would fill, your hearts would quicken, and you’d experience the clarity and provision you need.”
Utmost – Luke 24:32 – “Did not our heart burn within us?” Chambers offers this about waiting for (and holding onto) the guidance, blessings, and deliverances that sometimes only seem to come in the tomorrows of our lives, “We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, the fires are kindled, we have wonderful visions; then we have to learn to keep the secret of the burning heart that will go through anything. It is the dull, bald, dreary, commonplace day, with commonplace duties and people, that kills the burning heart unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.”
I could stop there, but his continued explanations are so helpful (as usual), “Much of our distress as Christians comes not because of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test as to whether we ought to allow an emotion to have its way is to see what the outcome of the emotion will be…. if the outcome is something God would condemn, allow it no more way…. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many things inevitable as possible, let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay on the mount of transfiguration, but we must obey the light we received there….”
JA – “I want you to learn to enjoy more fully your guilt-free standing in My kingdom…. I’m inviting you to live jubilantly, reveling in the glorious privilege of belonging to Me forever! …it makes every moment of your life meaningful.”
Power – Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Joyce points out that, “The Word of God is seed, and when we release it in the earth, we will see good results…. We are God’s representatives on the Earth, His mouthpieces, and we are instructed by the apostle Paul to imitate Him (see Ephesians 5:1)…. Speak it boldly, with authority, believing it has power to change your life and circumstances.” This photo makes me think of being the branches of God’s vine, letting His light shine through us as we spread His Word and His love. This tree is at Point Clear where my parents spent part of their honeymoon in 1954. It’s such a charming hotel with a vintage feel (fixtures and photographs). The trees on the main street of Fairhope are lit up like this all fall and will be taken down after this weekend so the leaves can start their show.
[Note: The first photo is from the first night of this visit when my friend and I were “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” (Mobile Bay) waiting for the sunset. The second was watching the sunset paint the sky at the American Legion Tiki Bar (great food and atmosphere and open to the public).]
