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• January 1, 2010
Pastor Rich O'Brian Dear Reader,
I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)
Anticipation! It\'s a gift that God has given to us. But anticipation is at its best when it\'s balanced with another gift He has given to us... patience.
I\'m struck by King David\'s words in his 40th Psalm when he declares, \"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.\" Since the term \"patiently\" is used, I\'m left to wonder how long did he have to wait before he could say, \"He turned to me...\"? He doesn\'t say, but what follows is a panoply of blessings.
Whenever God responded to David He showered him with salvation-laden blessings. He raised him out of the pit in which he found himself. Further, God placed David\'s feet on a solid footing. And, best of all, He gave David a new song.
As we enter this new year, I want to suggest that if David\'s patience paid such dividends, it follows that being patient with the Lord is well worth our investment.
God is not a genie in a bottle who hears our every command and acts to accommodate us. Rather, as Holy Creator God, His knowledge, His timing, His will, all demand our respect and, if you will, our patience.
Something else; the reward. David says, \"He put a new song in my mouth.\" And, the result of this \"new song?\" He says, \"Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.\" I read this to mean that when I trust patiently in the Lord, the blessings I receive will bring such joy to my heart that what others see and hear from me will result in drawing them to the Lord as well.
So, as we begin a new year, I suggest that it would be worthwhile indeed to \"wait patiently for the Lord.\" The end result could be just the beginning. Our anticipation is exciting as we wait on the Lord.
Last month, Dianne and I completed five years at FBC; and what a blessed five years it has been. God has blessed! You have been and are a blessing! We want you to know how much we appreciate what you do in the name of Jesus, and what you are as you serve Him.
Blessings,
Rich O’Brian, Pastor
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