Psalm 39:7. And now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Late to bed, late to rise! And I’ve proven it once again, this sunny Friday, the first day of March 2024, for I was abed late last night, and still abed late this morning! (smile) And I’m shaking my head here, because I had to run around in the cold, windy weather yesterday, doing chores that should have been done before in the good weather. But that’s the evil of procrastination, you are forced to go out when you don’t want to. And even though it’s a bright sunny Friday with temps on the plus side, I think I deserve a day at home, to just relax and do my own thing. (smile)
But here’s something else to consider; that even with 29 days, February has gone off the map in to the dustbin of history, like a flash of lightning. Two months of the year are already in the annals. And what is that trying to tell us eh? That time is not waiting for us, or for anything. It’s just going its merry way like the Lord planned. That means we have to get up and get ourselves together, unless we want time to pass us by, and we reach the end of our journey and have not done half of the things we either planned to do, or that God desired that we do.
Now that would just be a crying shame! And I can vouch for that, because I still have a lot of writing to do and music to make, as well as God’s work, which I have not yet embarked upon, and I’m already in my later years. Hn! I’ve already passed my three score and ten, so who knows how much is left. One of my friends, some thirteen years older, keeps chirping that he’s living on overtime. But who knows if I will be granted the same amount of overtime? (smile) That means I need to get up off of my fat, lazy fanny and get rolling soon, and very soon too, if I want to leave some kind of positive legacy, something to at least say that I passed this way.
However, in this busy life there are so many distractions and so many things calling out to be done, and as I heard one preacher say recently, to do what you need to do, that includes spending time with God, some things must be left undone. And that’s the gospel truth! We therefore have to prioritize our thoughts and actions, especially when the enemy takes vast pleasure in distracting us from the important things, like doing God’s work, or spending time with Him. That reminds me of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90, when he pleads: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom).’ (Ps. 90:12)
Yes my people, it would definitely help some of we knew the length of our lives, but that’s not God’s way. He desires us to seek wisdom and apply it as early as possible in our lives, and to continue seeking and applying it until the very day He calls us home. It’s interesting though that in Psalm 39, Bruh David also pleaded like Moses. ‘Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth (hand span); and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity (vapour). Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew (as a shadow): surely they are disquieted in vain (make an uproar over nothing): he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.’ (Ps. 39:4-7)
And that last phrase ‘my hope is in thee,’ is the most important one of our Christian journey my fellow believers! If we don’t know or think of anything else, we must always remember that our hope is indeed in the great God Jehovah; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! That’s where all our trust and faith must lie, regardless of what happens to us ,where we go, or what we do! Christ, the Son of the Living God must always be first place in our lives, and knowing that, we can carry any and every problem we have to Him for a just resolution. That’s His promise, and he never reneges on any of His promises.
Now that’s another useful thing for us to know and believe. So what’s it all about to day eh? To tell the truth, I really don’t know; (smile) I’ve just been going where I believe I was led. But it all seems to revolve around the fact that our time on God’s good earth is relatively short, and consequently we cannot afford to waste it in pursuing inconsequential matters. Therefore, whatever we desire to do, or that God desires us to do, we need to get up RIGHT NOW and begin doing it! Let’s not waste another moment of our invaluable time on Mother Earth! And having said that, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant seeking divine help to initiate it.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly.
And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And interestingly enough, the answer to our prayer is found right in our prayer; ‘the example that we your faithful believers set.’ Yes friends, until we begin setting a good example to those around us, divine help will not be forthcoming. Much LOVE!
…time is not meant to be wasted…but to be used productively…in God’s work…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
SCRIP-BITS 