Sometime ago, I was ‘clued-in’ in the spiritual that God Created EVERYTHING (seen and unseen) with The Word of His Mouth – Jesus, Who came to Earth as Man to demonstrate to our enemy – Satan, that Man – Created by God is able to stand against temptation.
“Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the Earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
God’s Story (His Story/His-Story/History) is infallible, so Jesus came and lived it in perfection and paid The Price for our sin – torture and death – The gospel proclaims that Jesus paid sin’s penalty thru His substitutionary death for sin. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, proving that God accepted His payment for sin. Jesus was punished for our sins so that we could be forgiven and avoid sin’s punishment. This is the true concept of salvation.
HuMans do not currently just exist in the pure Image of God, because of the reality of sin. Irenaeus claims that one must “grow into” The likeness of God. This is done through knowingly and willingly acting through one’s body. Because of sin, huMans still require The Son’s salvation, Who is in The perfect Image of God.
We have said that God’s physical Essence is the sum total of His perfection; and we shall now proceed to prove two theses with regard to it:
1. That God contains all possible perfections in an infinite degree.
2. That there is no real distinction of any kind between those perfections.
https://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/lamp25.htm
What is the purpose of huMans according to God?
Stewardship and dominion
Most Christians believe that huManity’s purpose is to look after the world that God has Created like caretakers (or stewards ), because creation belongs to God, not people. This is known as stewardship.
https://bibleproject.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-be-human/
We as huMan are the only essence in all existence Created like God! To say that humans are in the image of God is to recognize the special qualities of huMan nature which allow God to be made manifest in huMans.
What does it mean to “wait” on The Lord?
To some, that means spending time in prayer, seeking God.
To others, it means standing firm on what God has already Spoken to you.
To wait on God’s Answer, Voice, or Promise in prayer is an essential part of our walk with God.
So, money, job, peace, joy… ALL come from knowing God; The Creator! So, I have learned to wait on God in EVERY way!
If you put it as a waiter at a restaurant – I serve God; the ‘tip’ is beyond Amazing 👏
Waiting on The LORD has taught me patience and brings me peace and joy.
more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (ESV)
Psalm 33:20-22
“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”(ESV)
Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (NIV)
Psalm 37:34
“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (ESV)
Psalm 62:5
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (ESV)
Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (ESV)
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (NIV)
Isaiah 64:4
“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” (ESV)
Psalm 130:5
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;” (ESV)
Proverbs 20:22
“Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” (ESV)
Genesis 49:18
“I wait for your salvation, O Lord.” (ESV)
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6,9
…
God’s Word is powerful. It’s a solid rock that we can build our lives upon. As Christians, it’s our source of spiritual life.
God knows that His Word sustains us. He knows that for us to thrive spiritually, we must write His words on our heart. I believe that’s why He gave the commands above.
The verse from Deuteronomy was written thousands of years ago. But as Christians, it still applies to us. We all need to be reminded of God’s promises on a daily basis.
https://godsfingerprints.co/blogs/blog/7-reasons-every-christian-home-needs-scripture-art
And we pray:
Father in Heaven,
I come before You with my heart filled with so many different thoughts and feelings. I am tense and uncertain about what I should be doing and where I should go. I feel weak and helpless. Powerless. I am worried about what happens next and whether I have the strength to handle it. Deep down I wonder, how long will I be here? Will I be stuck in this place of waiting forever? And why am I here to begin with? What’s happening, Lord? But most of all, I wonder, where are You? Why haven’t You responded to my cries for help?
But even as I pray that, I know You are right where You have always said You would be. You’ve never left me and You will never forsake me. You are not deaf to my cries. In fact, You know the thoughts in my heart before I even think them. You know exactly what is happening, why I am here, and what is going to happen next. All things are in Your sovereign care and control. Nothing happens outside Your Knowledge and will. Not even a hair falls from my head without Your willing it to happen. Nothing surprises You or takes You off guard. Including this issue right here, right now. You know why I am here waiting and You have promised to use it for Your glory and my good.
Forgive me for all my doubts, worries, and fears. Forgive me for my impatience as I wait in this place. Forgive me for questioning the story You have Written for me. Forgive me for not seeking Your face and allowing the struggles before me to seem greater and stronger than Your grace and mercy for me. Cleanse my heart of all that keeps me from You. Help me to see the ways I have tried to be my own god and my own savior. Help me to see the false idols I have erected to worship and serve instead of You. Help me to see the things I am clinging to right now that I think I must have to make me happy and help me to repent and turn from them.
I believe, help me in my unbelief! Help me to remember that it is good to wait for You. As the prophet wrote in Lamentations, “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of The Lord” (3:26). As I wait, help me to remember and dwell on the salvation You have provided for me through Christ. Help me to remember that the same grace that saved me at the cross is the same grace that sustains me today. And that same grace is at work in me even now, shaping me into The Image of Your Son. And no matter what happens, no matter my current circumstances, I am safe in the shelter of Your Wings. There is nothing that can separate me from Your Love. Nothing and no one can snatch me from Your hands.
Grant me the joy that comes from knowing You and being known by You. Fill my heart with gospel joy. Strengthen me by Your Word. May the words of the Psalmist be true of me, “I wait for The LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope” (Psalm 130:5).
Help me to remain faithful in this place of waiting. Help me to serve You and live for You even in this crossroad of my life. Help me to wait as long as it takes.
I pray all these things because of Jesus and in His name,
Amen.