Psalm 119:81           “My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, thoughts of the greatness of grace, the power of hope, and peace filled my consciousness.

Psalm 118:6-9 gripped me and infused an excited surge of peace in me.   We quote, “The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” That is comforting.  The implication is that no man or devil can do more to us than God allows.  We are covenant people. Even if man does evil, I rest in peace knowing I am kept. God’s got this!

Psalm 119:81 grips my heart every time I read it. We read it, but do we fully embrace its depth? Note the end of the sentence, “I wait for Thy Word.”   Wait?   Not as in passively abiding until.  The word is (yachal) = HOPE.   It is active, confident expectation. It is eager anticipation. It is settled assurance. It is an inner knowing. I wait on the Word.   Who is the Word? Jesus!

In Psalm 123:1-2, the Psalmist focuses on the source of his deliverance, God. He looks UNTIL… Until?   Until the overflowing, all-encompassing Grace of God comes!   That causes me to remember the words of Jesus – Ask, Seek, Knock.  It is persistence and perseverance.  It is Waiting on the Word!

Titus 2:11 – “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.”    The door is open. (verse 12) – “Instructing us to deny…”   Deny the flesh.  “Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of Hope.”   Not only looking for the return of Jesus to take us home eternally, but for the presence of Jesus to live in the ominous Now!

Titus 3:4 fascinates me. “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared…”   Kindness is a character trait of Jesus and those who are His. Are we kind?

If Christ is IN us, we will manifest His character and nature.   Our barometer to evaluate our condition is the characteristics of Jesus visible in us.   Are we lacking? Look to Him in Hope and Surrender!

LORD, help us to Wait on Your Word!