Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!

PSALM 27:14.

WAITING IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. Author and pastor Charles Swindoll says it's the hardest thing Christians have to do. Because we live in an instant society, we're not used to waiting for anything. But G.o.d uses the discipline of waiting to teach us lessons we can't learn any other way.

Sometimes G.o.d puts the brakes on our plans because He wants to teach us an important lesson and He has to get our attention. Occasionally, G.o.d puts up a stop sign to keep us from going in a certain direction because he wants to redirect us. Quite often, we're so sure we're headed the right way that we won't listen unless He stops us dead in our tracks. Of course, we sometimes need G.o.d to grab us and stop the runaway train of our lives because we've sinned and we need to repent.

Waiting can be especially difficult when it seems as if everything in our lives is stuck at a red light, but He may be preparing a person or a situation so that when we proceed again He can work even more powerfully.

To us, waiting seems like a waste-or worse, it feels like things will never be right again. When we have to wait, we shouldn't just sit and fritter away the time. We should pursue G.o.d with all our hearts, try to determine the reason G.o.d wants us to wait, and trust His goodness and timing because He is, after all, G.o.d.

Describe the last time you experienced waiting on G.o.d.

Which of the reasons above might have been G.o.d's purpose in this experience?

"Though G.o.d take the sun out of the heaven yet you must have patience."-GEORGE HERBERT

MARCH 15.

FULL OF HOPE.

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

JEREMIAH 29:11.

THE PROPHET JEREMIAH shared this message from the Lord after the people of Israel had experienced crushing disappointments. G.o.d wanted to remind them that He is the author of peace and hope.

Our dreams can take a beating too. We get excited when we feel that G.o.d has called us to do something important, then find we may not be ready to face the inevitable setbacks and criticism. We end up getting discouraged and wanting to quit.

For some of us, delays in fulfilling our dreams throw cold water on our enthusiasm. Instead of persevering, we become distracted by other things-often good things-and we lose focus on the thing G.o.d had burned into our hearts. Our impatience short-circuits the plan, and we settle for less than G.o.d's best. Keep in mind that the enemy of the best is settling for something good.

Imagine how refreshing G.o.d's words were when Jeremiah spoke them to the people! He reminded them that they weren't alone-G.o.d hadn't abandoned them. They had experienced severe problems and had doubted Him again and again. But in His great grace, G.o.d would even weave their problems into His plans for them. G.o.d's faithfulness is never dependent on our perception of our current situation.

Most of the greatest leaders we find in the Bible went through times of struggle and doubt. Abraham lied about his wife to save his own skin. Moses gave up on G.o.d and hit the rock to get water for the people. Peter proclaimed his loyalty to Jesus and a few hours later denied Him three times. But G.o.d reminded each of them of the hope they could have in their future because He is faithful and forgiving. As long as there is hope in the future, we'll have power in the present to persevere.

Are you discouraged that G.o.d's vision for your life doesn't seem to be making headway?

What do G.o.d's words of hope mean to you today?

"That the Almighty does make use of human agencies and directly intervenes in human affairs is one of the plainest statements in the Bible. I have so many evidences of His direction, so many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannot doubt that this power comes from above."-ABRAHAM LINCOLN

MARCH 16.

CAMPING OUT WITH AN ANGEL.

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

PSALM 34:7.

THE FEAR OF G.o.d is a strange term in the ears of many modern people. In ancient times, kings ruled with absolute sovereignty. They could bestow riches or remove someone's cranium on a whim. Their supreme power and authority made people afraid of them-and rightly so! With G.o.d, though, we don't have to worry about capricious actions. His infinite wisdom, mercy, and justice always guide His actions.

Ah, justice. That's the problem. G.o.d isn't a Santa Claus who only gives us good gifts. He is a strong, loving Father who requires loyalty from His children. If we are loyal, G.o.d pulls out all the stops to bless us and encourage us. He also continues to strengthen our relationship with Him when we are faced with difficult situations so that our roots go down deep into Him.

In this wonderful psalm, David describes a miraculous deliverance when it looked as though he was going to be killed. He ascribed G.o.d's protection to an angel's presence camping around him. Angels aren't chubby little babies with cute wings and bare bottoms. When we see them in the Scriptures, they are terrifying creatures who inspire awe! They are the ones who camp out with you and me all day every day. They act in concert with G.o.d's purposes to direct us and provide for us.

Today, realize that you are camping out with an angel.

What is an angel's role in your life?

Why do you think angels only camp out with people who trust in G.o.d?

"When G.o.d contemplates some great work, He begins it by the hand of some poor, weak, human creature, to whom He afterwards gives aid, so that enemies who seek to obstruct it are overcome."-MARTIN LUTHER

MARCH 17.

I'LL BE WATCHING YOU

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.

PSALM 33:18.

HOW WOULD WE LIVE differently if we were convinced that Almighty G.o.d watches us every moment of every day? Many of us would make much better choices!

Of course, G.o.d doesn't watch just His children. He is omnipresent and omniscient, meaning He is everywhere at all times and knowing everything to the smallest detail about everyone and everything. But in this verse, the poet wants us to reflect on the fact that not only is G.o.d watching us; He's watching out for us.

To be honest, many of us don't have a daily, genuine sense of need for G.o.d's intervention. The modern world has made food, homes, and comfort standard equipment, and we've learned to expect these things. We look to G.o.d only when something happens that rocks our world. G.o.d may not have caused the calamities that bring us pain, but He uses them to remind us that He is infinitely powerful and good, and we can trust Him.

In times of desperation, we come face-to-face with our inadequacy. We may be highly competent executives or successful in other areas of life, but when we feel desperate, we cry out for His mercy. We need Him to do for us what we realize we can't do for ourselves.

And that's right where He wants us.

Does it encourage you or terrify you that G.o.d is watching you 24/7? Explain your answer.

In what kinds of circ.u.mstances are you most aware of G.o.d's presence?

"If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer-His grace is sufficient. His promise unchangeable."-JOHN NEWTON

MARCH 18.

THE CURSE OF MEDIOCRITY.

Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

REVELATION 3:16.

DO YOU EVER FEEL as if you're just going through the motions? Some of us, for any number of reasons, have lost our pa.s.sion for work, G.o.d, our families, and everything else in our lives. We drag ourselves in after a long day and collapse on the sofa only to tune out in front of the television. We no longer want to change the world. The most we can muster is changing the channel.

Even if the stress levels in our lives are only slightly above optimum, our minds, hearts, and bodies eventually wear down, and all forms of energy in our lives dissipate. We used to be excited about this goal or that purpose, but no longer. We used to care deeply about this person or that cause, but not anymore. All we want is to be left alone or to find somebody or something that will give us a few moments' pleasure. The curse of mediocrity ruins us and everyone we touch.

In the letters to the seven churches in the opening chapters of Revelation, John writes to the church at Laodicea that the Lord is, to say the least, dissatisfied with its lack of pa.s.sion. The church was located near the hot springs of Hierapolis, so the reference to "hot" may be about the steamy, healing, medicinal baths. The "cold" may reference the water that refreshed tired workers and travelers. But the church didn't have any cold water, either. All it had was tepid, bland water that couldn't heal and didn't refresh-the kind we'd spit out!

If your heart is lukewarm, step back, take stock of your stress level, notice any negative habits you've allowed to develop-and make changes. Don't settle for mediocrity any longer, but don't just add more activity to your life. To become fully alive again, you may have to eliminate even more than you add.

What activities, purposes, or people bring pa.s.sion and purpose to your life?

To what extent has your life become mediocre? What do you need to do about it?

"As I read my Scriptures today, the words ring loud and clear that the most miserable creature on earth is the fence-straddler trying to please G.o.d and man. He fails to do either and ends up not even pleasing himself, much less his fellow man or his G.o.d."-ZIG ZIGLAR

MARCH 19.

ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS.

Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only." So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our G.o.d."

EXODUS 8:9-10.

IF WE WANT TO DELAY making a decision, we can always find an excuse. And some of us are board-certified experts! After all, we don't want to decide now because the situation might change, the problem might completely go away, somebody may come up with a better solution, or we might win the lottery or a tornado might blow us away-either way, we won't have to make that decision!

Sometimes, we put up with an incredible mess because we're afraid of making a mistake. During the plagues, G.o.d sent frogs to torment Pharaoh so that he would set G.o.d's people free. Now, one or two frogs aren't a problem, but millions of them-in your shirt and squished under your feet-are big trouble! Moses offered to stop the plague, but Pharaoh said, "Well, let's wait until tomorrow." (I'm sure his wife pitched a fit!) Certainly, we need to think through decisions so we choose the best option, but sooner or later, it's time to act. Procrastination is paralysis by fear, not astute planning. If you regularly have difficulty making decisions, look below the surface to identify your fears, and address them. Until you do, you'll be spending a lot of nights with the frogs.

What are some fears that can lead to procrastination?

How can someone address those fears so that they no longer interfere with life?

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."-ABRAHAM LINCOLN

MARCH 20.