✝ Daily Encouragement (1/19/23) “My Expectation Is From Him"
Published: Thu, 01/19/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
|
Thursday, January 19, 2023
 "My Expectation Is From
Him"
Message summary:
Today, whatever you are dealing with we urge you to “wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart”
(Psalm
27:14).
Listen
to our message on your audio
player.
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3).
“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5). "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord" (Psalm 130:5,6)
I am slowly recovering from my abdominal surgery performed two weeks ago and am still in some pain, but now I enter the phase of getting impatient
due to the inevitable restrictions. It takes a while for muscle to heal and we use our abdominal muscles for about every movement we make, so now I am all too aware of where my abdominal muscles are. Yesterday a drainage tube was removed so that's a big step in the right direction. It enabled me to actually sleep part of the night in a bed rather than a
recliner.
Last night I had a rather peculiar but encouraging dream. I dreamed I had received my glorified body, the body we will have in heaven. We won't receive it till after we die but in my dream I was still very much alive on this side.
As the teaching site gotquestions.org
explains,
While the Bible doesn’t describe in detail the glorified bodies we will receive in heaven, we know that they will be like that of Jesus’
resurrected body. Our human bodies are described in I Corinthians 15:42–53 as perishable, dishonorable, and weak, all due to sin. Our glorified bodies will be imperishable, honorable, and powerful. Our new bodies will no longer be “natural” bodies, subject to decay and death; we will live in “victory over sin and death,” won by Christ on our behalf (1 Corinthians
15:57).
Our glorified bodies will not be subject to pain!
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Well, this morning surprise, surprise, I am still very much in my natural body! Walking is hard and so is many of the taken for granted movements in
life such as stretching, reaching, bending or getting up after seated (some of our dear older readers might deal with this year round). But the dream reminded me of a future state I can joyfully anticipate!
Today we are all waiting in expectation for something. There is a sense that this is always true in life. All of us should be waiting in expectation
“for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
I recall a meeting with a Christian business leader several years ago who pointed out that so often the source of discontent and discord in life is
illegitimate expectations.
Well, that got me to thinking about our walk with the Lord. Are we always content and living in spiritual peace? I must say, for myself anyway, the answer would be a big “no, not always”, although that is surely what I desire. In ministering to many others over the years I realize I am certainly not alone. The two verses from the Psalms today complement each other: The first is directed as a prayer to God. “In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” The Psalmist acknowledged that the Lord heard his voice as he laid his requests before Him. Twice he declares “in the morning”, which seems to be an emphasis on the proper way to begin each new day before disruptions begin to steal our time. The verse ends with a declaration of waiting in expectation. That may be in regard to how the Lord would order the Psalmist's steps that very day or in the bigger, long-term picture. The second verse appears to be a self-directed charge and reminder. The Psalmist addresses his very own soul. “My soul, wait thou only upon God.” I do that in my life, except I usually word it to the effect, “Weber, you must trust God for this need.” Waiting on the Lord is not a natural tendency. It requires an ongoing constancy of trust even when the physical shows no evidence. Ah, but the final phrase is so instructive, “for my expectation is from Him.” That leads me to God’s promises which are abundant, steady and sure. There’s a great verse in the old hymn, ”Amazing Grace” that expresses this kind of faith. “The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures.” Today, whatever you are dealing with I urge you to “wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:14). 
Daily prayer:
Father, we look to You for hope that renews our faith and restores our strength. In the midst of situations that challenge and weary us, Your power and strength never diminish. Help us to wait in patient expectation. You never tire of us coming to You but rather You desire it. The promise of Your strength helps us rise above life’s detours and difficulties. We place our
confidence in You, unchanging God, and develop the fruit of patience as we wait on You to fulfill the promises You’ve made in Your Word. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Wait on the Lord and Be of Good Courage" Video
The Martins Want
to memorize Psalm 27:14 word perfect? Just listen to this song by the Martins and you will never forget the verse. The 2000 video is a bit blurry but the content is clear for listening. Ester and I memorized this many years ago and sang it to people in hospitals and hospice settings. I sing it to myself during periods of waiting and in times of
fear.
"I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)" Video
Shane and
Shane
"No More Night" Video David Phelps A dramatic song of what awaits us in heaven.
Brooksyne's Note:
Have you considered that not only will we not endure illness, pain, or suffering in heaven, but we will not experience
death either. Duh! you say, "Of course we won't die in heaven. I learned that as a small child." But have you considered how our mindset and activities will change in heaven because of that amazing truth? We can swim in water that's 1000 feet deep and never fear of getting tired and drowning because we can't drown! We can climb the highest cliff, step right on the edge and not fear should we fall over the edge. We won't die, we won't even break a limb or feel the
pain of landing. On and on the scenarios go in my mind when I think of the choices we make everyday or the restrictions we live with for fear that it could lead to injury or death.
 Brooksyne's first view of the Grand Canyon
2019
The Lord made this very real and picturesque in my mind the fall of 2019 during my first view of the Grand Canyon. The sheer magnitude of the
canyon, cut by the Colorado River in Northwest Arizona, was very hard for my brain to fathom. There were so many sights I wanted to see see up close, touch with my hands, and feel the awe of such spectacular beauty. But, all I could do was view it at a great distance behind a fence, because that's the law due to the common sense safety factor. Danger Ahead! Look but don't touch!
Suddenly God spoke to my heart and lovingly said (in so many words), "Brooksyne, don't you know that this kind of setting awaits you in
heaven. But there will be no restrictions for there is no danger of death or injury. You think the Grand Canyon is splendid, just wait till you see what I have for you to explore when you get here!" I'll never forget my one and only epiphany I had at the Grand Canyon. It's as fresh in my mind as it was over three years ago when God more clearly showed me what awaits the believer's eternal
setting.
|
Listen to these messages