“The Lord waits to be gracious to you…. blessed are those who wait for him” Isa. 30:18.
Heavenly Father, unreal… how can it really be December 1st. The season of Advent and Christmas are fully in gear, and both highlight the theme of waiting. “Waiting” confronts me in every context of life. Why am I in such a hurry? Why the rush?
At just the right time, you sent Jesus. Not a day too early, not a day too late. But as for me, traffic, Wi-Fi, and FedEx can’t move fast enough. Worse, I finish people’s sentences. I fidget instead of lingering. I launch instead of listening. Instead of a non-anxious presence, I often emit a harried hurry-up vibe.
Father, on this first day of December, I repent. A busy, cluttered, edgy, in too-much-of-a-hurry spirit isn’t a sign of hard working, but hardly worshipping. Advent is a season for treasuring Jesus in our hearts, not getting everything done. According to you, the only thing that counts is “faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6)—not success expressing itself in stress. People are forever; “stuff” will end up in the dumpster.
Thank you, Abba, for not being in a hurry. Thank you for “waiting to be gracious” to us. Thank you for not being slow about in keeping your promises. Slow. Us. Down. By your Spirit’s work, may December 2023 be a month of spiritual renewal for many of us. Life is too short and Jesus is too beautiful for us not to live at the pace of grace. So Very Amen.