Saturday, December 9, 2023 - WAIT FOR THE LORD

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, December 9, 2023 - Day 343  - (Today’s Bible readings: Nehemiah 12:44-13:30; Psalm 130; Revelation 7:1-8)

WAIT FOR THE LORD

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.    (Psalm 130 ESV) 

One thing all people have to deal with at one time or another is being down in the dumps. There can be may causes for feeling forlorn, for being depressed. David put his finger on the most common cause. He knew his sin. He knew he had betrayed almighty God. He knew he was hopeless on his own. Yet, look at the confidence he exudes, even in the middle of his despair:

Let your ears be attentive...to my pleas for mercy!

But with you there is forgiveness...

My soul waits for the Lord... and in his word I hope

With the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

We are in the season of Advent, the days of waiting for Christmas, Christ’s first coming. We are also waiting for His second coming. Are you ready? This beautiful Advent piece movingly reminds to wait for the Lord...

https://youtu.be/s7GexIvX8HU

Lord Jesus, I look to You, and to You alone, for the forgiveness of my sin. I praise You and thank You for taking all of my guilt away when You died in my place on the cross. Please grant me patience as I wait for You. Amen. 

 

Pastor David Paape