‘I am coming’

Psalm 27:8 ‘My heart has heard You say, Come and talk with Me. And my heart responds, Lord I am coming.’

Luke 10:38-42 ‘…but only a few things are necessary – really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part…’

A lot has been said about the virtues of Martha’s industry – and there was nothing wrong in what she was attempting to do – she just missed the main point. Jesus didn’t say ‘Martha chose the good part’ – He said ‘Mary chose the good part.’ In spite of what she needed to do – she made time for what she should do. I think our Father loves to hear us say, ‘I’ve got so many things to do; I’ve got so many irons in the fire; I’m busier than a one-armed paper hanger in a snowstorm in January; that I’m afraid I’ll miss the best part if I don’t sit right down and talk with You first.’

‘I trust You’

Isaiah 26:3 ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You.’

I think our Father delights in those who express unqualified trust in His character, His power and authority over all things, and in His unchanging Word. When we trust Him, we are saying, 'Father, I know what I want – but You know what is best for me – and I trust You to do it.' When we trust Him, it takes all the worry out of it. It takes all the sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days and fills them with the peace of God in the sure, sweet knowledge that He is in control.

‘I will wait’

Psalm 5:3 ‘Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly.’

Psalm 37:7 ‘Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.’

To wait means that we will not try to do this thing ourselves, even though it looks like certain disaster if we do. It means that we are on His timetable – not ours. I will wait for deliverance; I will wait for understanding; I will wait for the answer to my prayer. Because our heavenly Father knows what is best and when is the best time to answer. ‘But the Lord still waits for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.’ Isaiah 30:18

‘I don’t know – but You do’

James 1:5 ‘But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.’

Proverbs 2:6 ‘For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.’

‘I don’t know what decision to make…’ ‘I don’t know how to teach my children…’ ‘I don’t know how to pray…’ He will not leave us to the mercy of our inconsistent thoughts, our fickle emotions and wavering faith – but He will come to our rescue when we call, dispelling the panic in our hearts that drowns out His voice, rebuking the pride and willfulness that clouds our sight of Him, and lead us through the minefields of our emotions and desires.

‘Lord save me!’

Exodus 6:6 ‘I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment.’

Micah 4:10 ‘…But the Lord will rescue you there; He will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.’

Psalm 107:13-14 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,and burst their bonds apart.

God is all about redemption – He has a passion for redemption – not just lost souls, but lost years – ‘Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten…’ Joel 2:25-27– for senseless tragedies and agonizing memories – ‘Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder the things of the past. Behold I will do something new…’ Isaiah 43:18-19 Right in the middle of heartbreaking family chaos, in the aftermath of bad decisions and poor choices, God’s heart is to redeem all things for His glory. Jesus stands in Heaven today praying for us in and through all things so that they will work out according to God’s will for us – Romans 8:27. He is at work, working all things – ALL THINGS – even our failures – for His glory and our good– Romans 8:28.