Waiting Here For You, An Advent Journey 7 Day Devotional. Day 4:

GLORY IN THE HIGHEST

REFLECTION

God has no equal. No rivals. No shortages. No needs. He is before all things and at the end of the day He will be the last one standing. The world is filled with “little g” gods, but our God made the heavens and the earth. No one compares to Him. No one even comes close.

So as you wait on Him today, give Him praise. Maybe your circumstances appear to be upside down, but His throne is decidedly right-side up! Praise Him in the waiting. Exalt Him in the wondering. So don’t ask for much today, just keep lifting up the Name above every name. Let that Name ground your heart and still your soul. Let your praise drown out all others who contend for your allegiance and affection. When you do, your very song will lift your thoughts to the very highest place.

MEDITATION

Glory in the Highest

You are the first
You go before
You are the last
Lord, You’re the encore
Your name’s in lights for all to see
The starry host declare Your glory

Glory in the highest
Glory in the highest
Glory in the highest

Apart from You there is no god
Light of the world
The Bright and Morning Star
Your name will shine for all to see
You are the One
You are my glory

And no one else could ever compare
To You, Lord. All the earth together declares . . .
Glory in the highest . . . to You, Lord

All the earth will sing Your praise
The moon and stars, the sun and rain
Every nation will proclaim
That You are God and You will reign

Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory to You, Lord
Glory, glory hallelujah
Hallelujah

Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash

PRAYER

Father, what shall I say to You? You have no equal or rival. My words and my thoughts are so small when compared to You. I have seen the starry night and it cannot hold a candle to Your glory. Expand my faith and give me words as I seek to join the anthem of Your praise.

All praise is Yours, now and forever. I will walk in that truth today. I will believe it. And act like it. And pray like it. And give like it. And praise like there is none like You. Amen!

Today’s Devotional Verse

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord , that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord . Psalms 27:1‭-‬6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.27.1-6.KJV

Waiting Here For You, An Advent Journey Of Hope 7 Day Devotional. Day 3:

WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

REFLECTION

In the midst of the fray and fury, keep your eyes on Jesus. He is fighting for you. Emmanuel is near. Though accusations fly and the enemy assaults your thoughts, though people try to cut you down and drag your name through the mud, though schemes are launched and temptations roar, though your flesh fails and screams for revenge—your hope is in the One who fights for you. You are safe in God’s love and in the power of His mighty name.

MEDITATION

Fear Not to Trust Me in the Storm

Fear not to trust Me in the storm,
I’m always very near.
I come thy needless fears to calm,
Then, weary ones, don’t fear.

Refrain

Fear not, I am with thee,
Fear not, I am with thee,
Fear not, I am with thee,
Am with thee all the way.

I may not always seem so near
As thou wouldst have Me be;
But in the calm and in the storm,
I all thy dangers see.

Refrain

Fear not to trust My mighty arm;
It bro’t salvation down.
I suffered much to give thee life,
To give to thee a crown.

Refrain

J.W. Howe, Stanzas 1–3

PRAYER

Father, in the middle of the storm I am setting my hope on You. You fight for me and You are greater than all my enemies. Nothing I face today is more powerful than You. You are the solid ground beneath my feet. Thank You for surrounding those who surround me. Give me peace in the presence of my enemies, knowing that You see me and defend me in Your love. Amen.

Waiting Here For You, An Advent Journey Of Hope 7 Day Devotional. Day 2:

GOD WORKS WHILE WE WAIT

REFLECTION

If we are honest, we all hate to wait. In fact, most often we say something like, “I can’t believe this is taking so long; it’s costing me time I don’t have!” That’s because most of us consider waiting to be wasting. But it’s not so with our God.

God works while we wait. Even when you can’t see what He is doing, God is always orchestrating the events of heaven and earth to accomplish His purposes for your life. Trust in His unfailing love—love that moved Him to send a Savior from heaven to restore and rescue you. God’s plans for your life will not be thwarted. Wait patiently, knowing that waiting is never wasted when you are waiting on God.

MEDITATION

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

PRAYER

Father, I am here waiting for You. My heart and hands are open to Your purposes and plans for my life. Give me the patience I so desperately need and lead me in my waiting. Though my feelings may not be there just yet, I believe You are moving on my behalf right this minute, protecting, defending, preparing, providing. Give me grace to keep trusting in You in the face of the gale force winds of doubt that are blowing all around me. Anchor my heart in You. Amen.

Giving Thanks/ All Good Things Devotional Final Day, Day 4:

Run Hard Now

It’s time to awake now, while I care for you, while I hold you and let you love. Awake, this day. Give thanks for what has been forgotten, for people I bring around you, for this unfolding day, for all the unknowns, for the possibilities. What do you hope is possible? What do you want to ask Me now?

There is no separation between us, now. The curtain has been torn and I am here, leaning in. Your freedom and new day comes from living in my love. Know you are loved and respond to my love and my love pours out to everyone you see today. When you let nothing separate us, when you hand over the sin that can’t separate us unless you let it, you are free. And all the desires of loving others well, being present and sacrificing and surrendering and thinking of others more than yourself comes naturally. Love is who you are when I am chosen and all separation with me is handed over.

Hand yourself over, my daughter.

Jesus had the choice, to be handed over or not. He took all sin, but I didn’t force him. It is impossible for him to not do my will when his life is one with me. You are capable of anything, and your life is full of possibility and joy and hope when you trust Me more than yourself, when you allow my strength to be your strength, when your weaknesses are no longer weaknesses but strengths, too.

I call you to awake and to go deeper still, in your trust of Me. I call you to live in the safe place of my love so you can go out and love others well. There are so many who don’t know this hope you have, and I ask you to awake and sing loud the life I give you. You are the blessing. You are the one I chose to love and bless and carry forth the hope within you so others may hope and respond to my love by being blessed by the love I give you.

Remember, nothing stands between us, love. Be firm in your pursuit of Me. To awake means to fight hard the battle I’ve given you to fight—and remember, you do it for the sake of the ones I know are lost. I have found you. You are found. So, now awake; get going. Run hard for the ones I show you to love.

I show you how to love. I show you what it means to live awake.