hope|sounds

Day 6 in prayer room - October 5, 2010

Today's prayer focus: Justice

Isaiah 30:18 (AMP) - "And therefore the Lord earnestly waits (expecting, looking and longing) to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who earnestly wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him (for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, his joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship)."

Why is God waiting to be gracious to us? Do we need to allow Him? But He's God?! Whether we like it or even believe it or not, He extends mercy to us every day. Thank you, God, that you have all power but you do not manipulate it. You allow patience to have its perfect way in you though you are already mature and complete, lacking nothing.

In waiting, you lift yourself up - you exercise excellence in patience, love and self-control and these things exalt you...SO THAT you can show mercy and loving-kindness to us. Mercy and loving-kindness is demonstrated in LOVE which is demonstrated through PATIENCE which comes from WAITING.

Thoughts:

God is a God of judgment which is why He exercises patience in waiting because it shows mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

God is a God of justice - justice is waiting patiently and showing mercy.

Isaiah 30:15-16 - We returned to the Lord and rest, we dwelt in quietness and trust but we were not willing and instead went our own way.

God waits patiently for us to stop going our own way, leaning on our own understanding and trusting in our own strength and abilities.