WAITING WITH EXPECTATION
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
A watchman was responsible for staying awake through the night, guarding a city or property and watching for danger. The night could feel long, uncertain and vulnerable. So, the watchman looked toward the horizon, knowing that morning would eventually come.
That makes the image in Psalm 130 quite powerful. The psalmist is saying, That is how intensely I am looking for God. There are several ideas wrapped up in the picture: Longing — the watchman deeply wants the darkness to end. Alertness—he's not asleep or distracted; he's watching expectantly. Patience—he cannot make the sun rise any faster. Confidence—he knows morning is coming, even when he cannot see it yet. Hope in the darkness—the present darkness is real, but it is not permanent.
A watchman doesn't wonder whether morning will come; he waits for something he knows is coming. Waiting for God is like a watchman waiting for sunrise. We may not be able to make the morning come any sooner, but we can keep our eyes on the horizon, trusting that the darkness will not last forever. May we be like the watchmen, and also like Micah, who learned to wait with a settled expectation in the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God.
APPLICATION: Try a simple watch for the morning practice this week: choose one thing you are waiting on God for, write it down and spend five quiet minutes each morning praying about it without trying to solve it. End by saying, Lord, I cannot make the morning come, but I trust You while I wait. Then, at the end of the week, look back and write down any small signs of God's presence, provision, direction or encouragement you noticed along the way.
PRAYER: Lord, help me trust You while I wait. Give me confidence that morning will come. Use this time to deepen our relationship. In Jesus' name, amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?