Promises, Promises

Apparently I'm failing Blog Pacing 101, but oh well. The bug has bit and I must scratch.

Yesterday I was musing that one of the reasons I have trouble waiting patiently and faith-fully for things from the Lord is because I have no assurance that these things are promised to me. I think, "If I were Abraham and had a promise to claim I'd do better!"

Oh wait. Hagar.

"If I were Caleb and had been promised that I would not die till I had been given my promised land, hopefully I would do better!"

So. How do I have faith for what has not been promised?

Five minutes later Jesus led me an intense dance through the Psalms, answering that very question.

"I waited patiently for the LORD."
Ps. 40:1a

Why do I constantly forget that? Especially considering the next line is,

"and He inclined to me, and heard my cry."
Ps. 40:1b

And then, good grief, it kept going!

"How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood."
Ps. 40:4

As women those words cut especially deep because of our tendency when faced with a lack of trust in Jesus to get suckered by the strong man, who turns out to be nothing but proud, and the smooth talker who turns out to be one long falsehood. Which of us hasn't done it? From Eve on down?

"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,
And Thy thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with Thee;
If I would declare and speak to them,
They would be too numerous to count."
Ps. 40:5

On the way into town yesterday I found myself thanking Him out of self-defense for all the good happening in my life, of which there is far more than bad. "Too numerous to count," really. I felt much better for having done. Funny how that works:

"I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation;
I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness from the congregation."
Ps. 40:10

I can't prove it, but I hope the above results in the below:

"Thou, O LORD, wilt not withhold Thy compassion from me;
Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me."
Ps. 40:11

Then He began to get blessedly repetitive as we moved on to the next psalm.

"My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Ps. 62:1-2

(Sometimes I think David had a lot of female in his nature. Bless him. And all those other Hebrews who did not chastise emotion.)
Am I waiting for somebody to be my rock and my salvation?

"On God my salvation and my glory rest."
Ps. 62:7a

From my word studies I have gathered that "glory" could be considered a decent synonym for "reality." "Essence", even. And I can easily see that I am looking elsewhere than to God to make me feel real, to validate my essence. Why is it so hard to find my reality in Jesus? I find His more readily.

"Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Ps. 62:8

This is a fact. God is a refuge for us. Not "can be," or "might be," or even "will be." He is. Once again. I can pour out my heart like a girl and instead of being disapproving, He says, "Come here-- hide out in My safe blanket fort for a while. I'll rub your feet." Why do I constantly push that away?
Simple: I don't grasp the reality- the glory-- of His attitude.

"If riches increase, do not set your heart on them."
Ps. 62:10b

I know David means literal wealth, but the wealth I crave isn't money. So logic dictates I set my heart on the Lord even if one day I get what I want.

"...lovingkindness is Thine, O God..."
Ps. 62:12a

I don't have to have faith like Caleb's for love. He's promised that.