WAITING

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

PSALM 40:1 (MSG)
I waited and waited and waited for God.

    At last he looked; finally he listened.

JOHN 5:7-8 (NLT)
   “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

   Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”.

THE ESSENCE
Eventually, we realize that God hears us. 

DAILY FODDER
Why do we have to wait so long to get a response from God? What's the point in that?

PRAYER
I'm grateful, God, that you do listen to us. I admit, though, that I'm impatient and that I don't like waiting for an answer. And it’s even more frustrating when your response isn't exactly what I thought I wanted. Help me to embrace the waiting so that I can experience the type of healing that only you know I need. I'm going to treat all the waiting experiences as opportunities to expand my faith in you. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.