While We Wait . . .
Hello Family and Friends,
Each month I send out a devotion that I feel the Lord has given me. As much as I’ve wanted to sit and write this month about the election and all the disruption in America, I haven’t had the time. In our desire to simplify, George and I have been busy packing, moving, unpacking, and settling into our new downsized home.
Jennifer Strickland is an author, speaker, and writing coach who assisted me in writing Say Yes To The Bridegroom. She has become a dear and trusted friend. When she recently sent out this devotion reminding us that “Prayer is What We Do in the Waiting Room,” I knew I had to share it with you for this month’s devotion.
Wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for even in difficult times like this. God is always the victor and in control regardless no matter how things may seem.
Please grab a cup of java and enjoy this message from Jennifer. It is my honor to share this important devotion from her.
Blessings, Jan
Guest Post by Jennifer Strickland
At the top of the year, my mother-in-love Linda said to me, I think you should write about this: “Prayer is what we do in the waiting rooms of life.” So here we are in the waiting room.
The world is waiting on the new president to be inagurated, and while we wait, it seems good to pray and reflect on what we’ve done to contribute to the harm in our nation.
Taking my cue from the guilt I felt after getting into my fourth online argument this year with a woman who voted for those people, I’m once again pulling my face out of facebook and into THE book that brings life. The other day the Cowboy and I noticed after being on social media for 30 minutes, we felt angry and sick. I’ve never once felt that way after being in the Book of Life — for those that look to Him are radiant (Proverbs 6:16).
While we wait, let’s remind ourselves “There are six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to him.” I’ll let you look up the first six, but I’ll tell you the seventh is “stirring up division in a community.”
The ESV describes it as”one who sows discord among brothers” – calling this an abomination (Prov 6:16-19).
Time to eat a little humble pie? I think I’ll have four or five slices.
It’s a grievous thing to see Americans tearing each other apart. It’s a horrible example to the rest of the world, and it’s time for us to repent.
I have a zoom call scheduled Monday with that woman I argued with. We have both apologized and have decided to seek understanding and hopefully become friends (Proverbs 2:11, 3:13, 15:14; Psalm 133:1).
The second highest commandment is to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 33:38-39).
It’s all here:
Don’t make your brother stumble (1 Corinthians 10:32).
Clap your hand over your mouth (Job 21:5; Proverbs 30:32).
Reckless words are like sword thrusts (Proverbs 12:18).
Who are you to judge your neighbor? (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; James 4:11-12).
The tongue is a deadly poison (James 3:5-8).
You can’t bless God and curse people with the same mouth (James 1:9-12).
He who hates his brother walks in darkness (Leviticus 19:15-18; 1 John 2:9-11; 3: 14-15).
It’s ALL there, and we know it. But are we living it?
We are to expose evil, stand for justice, and hold people accountable for lies, but we are NEVER to repay anyone evil for evil (Psalm 5:10, Ephesians 5:11).
The Lord’s servant must not argue, but be kind to everyone, correcting his opponents with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
What if while we wait we humble ourselves and pray?
2 Chronicles 7:14 says if we do this along with turning from our sin, He will “heal our land.” And when God says He will do something, we can count on Him to do it.
Look, we think it’s atrocious they voted for the other guy, but they think the same of us. We could either stay angry at each other or forgive.
C.S. Lewis said, “I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless he sees that it is good for him to wait.”
There is a purpose in the waiting.
Prayer is what we do in the waiting rooms of life.
Maybe while we wait, we could reflect on how we’ve each treated each other?
Maybe we could:
“Set our minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
There is a magnanimous spiritual battle at play in America, and our minds have got to go higher.
When Jesus was put to death, he took the penalty for our sin and was raised in new life. When we choose Christ, we are then to “put to death anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language” and “put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive” (3:8, 12-13).
Above all, we are to “Put on love – the perfect bond of unity” (3:14).
“And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful” (3:15).
(Skimming the Book of Colossians can do wonders for your attitude.)
In chapter 4, we are told:
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person (4:6).
There’s your Bible study for the day. Yours, and mine.
While we wait,
Jen
Jennifer Strickland is a the author of Girl Perfect and Beautiful Lies, among other books and Bible studies that teach women their worth in God’s eyes. Since leaving a career as a professional model, she founded URMore.org, a non-profit ministry that provides resources to hurting women and girls. In her spare time, she loves cooking for family and friends. To read more of her devotions and her favorite way to eat leftover turkey, check out Jen’s Journal.
