The Well

JOY IN HIS WILL

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be astounded.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud,
or in those who worship idols.
O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen,
I finally understand
– you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, "Look, I have come.
And this has been written about me in your scroll:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your law is written on my heart."
Psalm 40:1-8

Back in 1995, God gave me this Psalm. Unfortunately, I don't recall waiting "patiently" on the Lord to help me. If anything, I behaved like a spoiled brat, stomping my feet, and walking around with my lower lip all poked out because I couldn't have the things I wanted. However, He rescued me from myself in spite of myself.

Today, I turn fifty-eight. Looking back I see His hand in everything that has ever happened in my life. I give Him all the glory.

God is love! Why do we run from Him? Because we know ourselves and we judge Him based on the way we think and act. That is one of the reasons why Jesus spoke so much about loving our enemies.

Jesus made the supreme sacrifice – He died so that we could live. God wants us to trust Him with everything. What in this world really matters anyhow? All that we will be able to take with us when we leave is love. So, maybe that is why God led His writers to write so much about love.

I truly take joy in doing His will. His law of love is written on my heart. Now, I wait for that day, with patience. Wouldn't it be great if I could let His love will be lived out in my life 24/7 for the remainder of my life?