May 4, 2022 – Haven’t been well since having Covid in late December. Last week was my first week to be out every day, and I thought maybe all the isolation was over! Then Saturday I felt bad again and got on an antibiotic Sunday. Missed Marshall’s birthday party Saturday, my class on Sunday, the twins on Monday, work on Tuesday and Wednesday (my second week on the job), and lunch with a friend Thursday.

Was thinking on God’s purpose because I don’t want to miss it. Then a devotion in Experiencing God Day by Day asked: Are you comfortable in abiding, or are you impatient to be in engaged in activity? Sometimes God makes Himself so obvious!!

So, abiding is the goal. I have known that for a long time – it just isn’t as easy as activity – even though they are not mutually exclusive. I seem to be able to turn everything into activity!!

Then today in Ps. 40 these things stood out.

            Verse 1 – I wait patiently for the Lord.

            Verse 2 –HE

                        Inclines to me

                        Hears my cry

                        Sets my feet on a rock

                        Establishes my steps

                        Puts a new song in my mouth

            Verse 3 – The result:

                        Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

I love that result. I want that result.

Then I started thinking about why it’s easier to get involved in activity than it is to just spend time with and enjoy God. There are probably more reasons than I know or can count. But a few came to mind:

            It doesn’t require quieting my mind and heart, or adjusting my life.

            It’s easier to see how far I miss the mark than it is to see how much I am loved.

            I still feel so not like Him. But He says we are one and I am being changed into the likeness of Jesus.

            It’s easier than receiving all that comes with believing –  though I love every precious promise and the Father who made them, the Son who secured them for me, and the Spirit who empowers me to receive and walk in them.

I think I want easy, but I do not like all that comes with it. I want to walk and talk with Him and wait patiently for Him. I want many to see it and fear and trust in the LORD.

Then I thought about what has helped me keep pursuing Him. It’s because He has kept pursuing me and persevering with me. It’s because, long ago I realized that He’s the place where love and life were to be found – the only place, even when I wasn’t finding it easy.

So, we need to help other followers persevere in believing and receiving.

But how do we help those who don’t feel like they could ever approach God, that they aren’t like us, and maybe are not even sure they want to be. Can we love them in a way that helps them know there is no other place of life and love?

The fact is they are different, so are we, but God can love them and us into changing into the likeness of Christ. Amazing grace!!!