O Father. Have I been like these people?
It seems they were truly seeking Your will, and promised to do whatever Jeremiah revealed as Your will.
But when ten days went by, they had already evaluated their options and come to a decision they thought was best for them. It seems once they had made up their minds, there was no room for Your Word to be heard.
I wonder if there have been times when I came to You, pouring out my heart because I was so desperate and didn’t know what to do. Then, while waiting for Your response, I looked around for myself and became convinced of my best option.
Father, when faced with hardship and stress, would You help me be patient until I hear an answer from You. Waiting can be very hard even in the best of situations. But when there is pressure to make a decision, or harm may occur without action, waiting can be unbearable. Help me bear it.
I’ve had people tell me “God can’t steer a parked car.” They are encouraging me to get started in some direction, saying You will guide me once I commit to go. But sometimes that is not wise advice. I can become so committed to the direction I choose, that I refuse to course correct later.
While waiting, help me stay so close to You, that I recognize Your voice. When I do hear from You, reassure me it is truly Your Word. Even if it goes against what I might have thought, help me know without a doubt, that what I’ve heard is from You.
And Father, empower me to be obedient. Don’t let me be defensive of any plan I have come up with myself, or think I know something You don’t. Time and time again, You have shown me that Your answers are far more creative, far more successful and far more wise than any I have ever thought up.
The Israelites decided rather than stay in hardship one more day, they should go the way that seemed to benefit them. Father, if there comes a time when I must remain in a hard place, or endure Your correction, strengthen me to be able to do that. Even though it may seem I’m in the frying pan, I trust in Your wisdom, in Your perspective, and in Your perfect plan to keep me out of the fire.
That I have faith in You to direct my life is easy to say when the times are good. Father, strengthen and prepare me to be able to live out my faith, even when the times are not. Amen
Daily Bible Prayer 
As you so well express, waiting can be one of the hardest things we do, especially when we’re being pushed for an answer. The more important that answer is, the more important our hearing from our loving Father is. Even knowing this seems to increase the pressure to get that answer. I find it’s best to get in a quiet place alone and simply sit in His presence until we hear from our Daddy-God. If it’s not His time for us to have an answer, He will give us the peace and reassurance we need to wait until the answer comes.
LikeLike