A Daily Devotion for Monday, August 3
Psalm 40:1-5
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.
Blessed is the one
who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Waiting is difficult. Waiting on God is no easier than waiting for anything else. We wonder if He heard our cries to him. We wonder if His plan includes resolution for us and for those we love. I like the ideas that the writer had for making his waiting time productive. He set aside time for prayer, for listening. He wrote down his prayers, and wrote things he was grateful for each day. He joined a faith community. “The psalms help me to trust God’s timing and relinquish control.” To me, these habits bring to mind a word that I have heard more lately: “intentional.” Even waiting can be intentional when we are focused on growing closer to God.
Holy Lord, I know that I need to be more intentional in my prayer life and my walk with you. The increase and the change will come from you, but my choices can strengthen my relationship with you. Help me to remember this, each and every day, starting today. Amen
Becky, transforming
Sorry, unable to use picture today. I will pursue the issue.
Psalm 40:1-5. Be Still
Be Still. A favorite phrase of mine. This is wonderful advice for all of us living in this sometimes crazy world. We often say sorry - no time for that! If we would only recognize the power of silence and stillness. We begin to see and hear the wonders of His beautiful world and have time to share. Stillness can help our faith grow because we put aside the noise of the world and only listen to Him.
Prayer; Gracious God, help me to always find quiet, still time each day so I can let you into my thoughts. AME
Psalm 40:1-5
Patience isn’t my strong suit, ‘never really has been, although I am better. In my pompous youth is was terrible. I (emphasis on “I”)thought I had all the answers, I thought I could get through any mud and mire, any slimy pit on my own. It was a time of arrogance, a time when I was not as close to God as I should have been. Fortunately, with age comes spiritual maturity, and with spiritual maturity comes trust in God. Today the mud and mire have me turning to God, my protection and my peace. How I feel about it now that I’m in my senior years, my last pages… I have a new song like David, a…
Monday, August 3rd, 2026
Be Still
(focus: My Faith Community
Today’s Reading :Psalm 40:1-5
Psalm 40:1
A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
This reminds me of the saying “ Practice Makes Perfect” It is a learned response,(meaning PRACTICE)not a natural reaction. Practicing and learning to wait on the Lord involves spending time in quiet prayer, studying Scripture, and letting go of control. It means trusting God's good timing instead of rushing ahead on our own. When we wait for the LORD we show that we trust Him. We know that He has not forgotten us or the problems we face. At the beginning of Psalm 40, David reflects…
Psalm 40:1-5
As world culture drifts further from the church, I sense there are more and more unrooted people who have “turned aside to false gods.” Those who trust in the Lord in places where the church is actively persecuted can be an inspiration to those of us blessed to live in a land that retains a significant remnant of faithful believers. I have just read this morning of Tajikistan, where it is illegal to teach children about Jesus, where the small number of believers must meet in secret, where one can lose their job and their family and can face prison time for the “crime” of becoming a Christian. For them, Psalm 40 may have much greater impact than…