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]!  Isaiah 30:18

George Mueller once said, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance. It is laying hold of God’s willingness.”

Pause and think on these things: The Lord is earnestly waiting, expecting, looking, and longing to be gracious to you. Ask for and expect His victory, His favor, His peace, His joy, and unbroken companionship with Him.

He wants to bless you.

Brother Bill

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13

It is interesting to realize that when God’s people, the Israelites, were in exile in Babylon for their rebellion and sin, he encouraged them! Verses 11-13 confirm this when he said he had plans for them; plans to prosper them and not to harm them! And the same verses apply to us.

God is a good and gracious God. The consequence for their sin was captivity in Babylon, but God did not abandon them. He will not abandon us either. These scriptures tell me that when I have “messed” up and made mistakes, the place to go is to the throne of grace. God forgives and restores. My favorite part is in verses 12 and 13 where he says that when you call on me, I will listen and if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.

If God promised that to his rebellious children in exile, then He will do the same thing for you. This is a beautiful promise to those who know and love Him. He knew we would make mistakes, but he graciously and willingly forgives and is willing to restore us through His son Jesus Christ.

Seek Him with all of your heart, (that means sincerely), and you will find Him. He loves you and is waiting on you to come to Him.

Christine

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].”
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 The Amplified Bible

This is a promise to those who have accepted Jesus as their savior. Isaiah 61:10 gives us a beautiful picture of a bride adorned with her jewels. I can remember how beautiful my daughter looked the day of her wedding and the overwhelming emotions we experienced as we watched her get married. God seems to feel the same way about us when we are clothed in His righteousness. Like the scripture says, it causes you to rejoice in the Lord and exalt Him and praise Him.

I pray that you get a revelation of what salvation means and know what the Lord has done for you and rejoice in the fact that you are the righteousness of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

That’s a promise to you and to me that is greater than anything the world has to offer!

Christine

“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”  Isaiah 40:31  The Amplified Bible

We have supernatural strength — over an above what we need. Expect to receive the energy you need. Confess your strength in the Lord.

“I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8  The Amplified Bible

Lord, you may, and often do, use wise Godly counselors and mentors around me to teach me. Through Your Holy Spirit within me I have a full time, ever-present, “24/7″ means through whom You instruct and teach me. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your promise.  I confess that I hear Your voice clearly and distinctly and follow the way you tell me to go.  Amen.

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 68:19 The Amplified Bible

In the Amplified, seventy-one verses from the book of Psalms and three verses from Habukkuk end with the sentence”Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!” I often use that same phrase to suggest that we should think on all promises from God in the same way. Bless the Lord. He bears our burdens and carries us!

Selah, pause and calmly think of that!

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16 The Amplified Bible

Who has the answers? God does. And He has given us the mind of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Selah. Pause, and calmly think of that!

THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1 The Amplified Bible

Question: Whom shall I fear or dread? Of whom shall I be afraid?   Answer: NO ONE.
Selah. Pause, and calmly think of that!

“As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. ”   Psalm 18:30 The Amplified Bible

A cloud of witnesses can testify to God’s tested and tried Word. Take refuge in that Word–not in what you see or hear in the world.

My Shield! My Refuge! You are the Ancient of Days whose word has stood the test of time and has proven itself perfect. Your word has been tested and tried and has been extended to me through the blood of Christ Jesus. Lord I put my trust in You.   Amen.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Psalm 8:4 The Amplified Bible

Meditate on this verse during your day and before you retire for the night. The Lord alone is the reason we dwell in safety. He is the One in whom we have confident trust. No matter what is going on around us we can lie down and sleep in peace.

Selah. Pause and calmly think of that!

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.”
James 1:5 The Amplified Bible

Okay, this is a word from God through James, the half-brother of Jesus. It’s still the same story as Jeremiah 33:3. And here’s an additional word on what your attitude and state of mind should be when you ask:

“Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 The Amplified BIble

Just speak God’s Word back to Him and tell Him you have faith in it. He’ll do the rest.

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand.)”
Jeremiah 33:3 The Amplified Bible

Just ask Him. Don’t argue with it. Confess that when God speaks to you you hear Him! That’s what His Word says.

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 The Amplified Bible

The questions in this verse are rhetorical–not seeking an answer. The answers are so well-known that a reply isn’t necessary. But here it is: NO ONE. With the Lord on our side we need not fear the accuser, the devil, or anyone. Speak this scripture to the Lord and claim it. Confess it as yours.

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits– Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]! Psalm 103:1-5 The Amplified Bible

Psalm 103:1-5 can be spoken back (out loud!) to God just as it is. And, if you’re anything like me you will end up excited after you pray it!

Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad, and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of [my reasons for] Your praise all the day long. Psalm 35:27-28 The Amplified Bible

Lord, I shout for joy and I say continually throughout the day, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” I am your servant and you take pleasure in the prosperity of my health, my relationships, my mind, my spirit, and my finances. Let me bring pleasure to you through my all aspects of my prosperity.
In Jesus name, Amen.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call on Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for and require Me as a vital necessity and find Me; when you search for Me with all your heart.   Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Amplified Bible

Lord, your Word says you are thinking of my welfare and peace. Your plans for me give me hope. When I call on You, you hear me and heed my word. I require You as a vital necessity and as I search for You will all my heart I find You. I confess that You are fulfilling your plans for me today. In Jesus name, Amen