For those who are waiting.
Hello all!
I am starting something new that I hope to continue on a monthly basis. As many of you know, I am going to be having a baby boy in June! As I have been preparing for baby Owen I decided one day to get a small notebook and start writing scriptures down in the book with a prayer that goes with the scripture. This will be for him to read someday and hopefully use in times of need. After starting this journal of sorts I began to think, why don't I do this more often for myself and for others? So scripture treats was born!
I am hoping to post a few scriptures over a particular topic with a prayer attached. These scriptures and prayers are for you to use! I truly believe that the Bible is here for us as a tool to use! I believe that all scripture is powerful and God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17) so why not use it as a guide to pray with! I have heard many people over the years mention how they do not know how to pray or where to begin. Begin with the Bible! Pray the scriptures!
This month's set of scriptures will be focused on waiting. Since I have been writing about this lately and I have been learning so much about waiting on God, I thought that I would start with scriptures to encourage those of us who are waiting on something. So take these scriptures and prayers and apply them to your own prayer life! I even keep a set of scriptures taped to my mirror so I can be reminded of them everyday so, feel free to do the same! Before I begin, I want to encourage you to go and read the chapters that these scriptures come from. I never want to take scripture out of context. Each of these verses have powerful stories surrounding it of people dealing with waiting so take the time to read the chapters and dwell on their messages.
Scriptures focused on waiting...
Habakkuk 1:5
"Look at the nations and observe- be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it." (CSB)
Background: Habakkuk was a prophet of Israel that had many questions about Israel's turmoil. The entire book is about prayers that he prays and God's responses to those prayers. It is a beautiful book about waiting to hear from God. Habakkuk's prayers continue to increase in confidence as he learns to hear from God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to trust that you are still at work in my life. Help me to believe that you are doing a work that is beyond what my small mind can comprehend at this time. Help me to have the diligence to wait for it to come instead of trying to take matters into my own hands based on my own understanding. Open my eyes to observe what you are doing already in my life and let me be astounded! Let me trust that you are working things out in your timing and help me not to grow impatient while waiting on you. Like Habakkuk, help me to position myself to hear from you (Habakkuk 2:1) and let my confidence grow in knowing that you are designing something for me and my future that goes beyond anything I can conjure up myself. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your continual work in my life! I love you oh gracious and merciful Lord! Amen
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. This is the Lord's declaration. For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts..." (CSB)
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to believe in this declaration. Help me to know that your ways and thoughts are higher than my own. Help me to truly take this to heart and let this understanding give me more confidence to trust in you when I have questions and when I have doubts. Help me to trust in you even when I am having a hard time seeing you at work around me. Remind me when I start to get overwhelmed with life that I am only seeing a small portion and that you are outside of it all looking back with your understanding and are not overwhelmed! Let me rest in your presence knowing, that you know all things and are working out all things beyond what I think is best. You are truly a way maker. I love you and will put my trust in you oh Lord! Amen.
Romans 8:28
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (CSB)
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to know that in this very moment you are working things together for our good. Help this to encourage me to engage in what you have for me today. Give me faithfulness through obedience and consecration to stay on the path until you give me different or new direction. Help me to keep a firm confidence in your plan and purpose. Help me to flow in your progression and timing and seek your kingdom first above all else. Give me the courage to recognize where your hand is already at work and to not miss opportunities today to do your work. I have been so distracted with waiting on what is to come that I have missed what is already at work here. Change my perspective in believing that you are working everything together and let this free me to focus on today. Thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you for what you have already done, are doing, and will do! You are an amazing God, holy, and lifted up! Amen.
Psalm 130:5-6
"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." (NIV)
Prayer: Dear Lord, like the Psalmist says here I wait for you! Let my whole being wait for you! I may have questions and I may be frustrated in the process of waiting but, I will put my hope in your word! I will wait for you oh Lord! I believe that you will answer in your timing. I believe that you are working everything out for your good and perfect will. Help me to wait will diligence and to stand firm and not allow myself to get distracted or overwhelmed. Like a watchmen waits for the morning to come, so I will position myself even more to hear from you! My whole being waits and as I wait, I will put my hope in your word! You Lord are my strength and my provider and I put my trust in you! Amen.
Other scriptures to help with waiting: Proverbs 16:9/ Micah 7:7/ Ecclesiastes 3:1/ Lamentations 3:25/ Psalms 27:14