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Devotional Memoir

Wait for it

Over the holidays, we watch old movies together. 

“Wait for it….”

Expecting the coming punchline. Dialogue already in our heads. And on our lips. Story summoning memory. 

We anticipate what we’ve already seen. 

Wait for it…. Image by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

Spoiler alert

And, spoiler alert. Some of us have a hard time keeping the next scene to ourselves. 

Fresh laughter erupts at the same places. Every time. 

Hearts skip a beat in the suspenseful dark. Sadness rises during scenes of loss and death. Cheers erupt over victories. 

We know how it ends. But we’re captivated. Caught up in the story. Catching new details as the plot unfolds.

Wait for it

2021 stretches out before us. Unwritten journey. With unexpected turns and roadblocks ahead. Changes almost guaranteed.

Taking us where we’ve never been before.

But. Wait for it…. 

Walking into this new part of our story, we can anticipate what we’ve already seen. 

The faithfulness of our God. The truth of His Word. Hope in His unfailing love. The transforming power of His salvation in our lives and the lives of others.

Soon and very soon

And reading Revelation at the end of 2020 reminds me. We already have a glimpse of the end scene. What’s coming.  

Perhaps soon and very soon. In the blink of an eye.

So. When we’re stumbling through sudden changes. Groping in the dark at times. Wondering what’s next. Let’s lift up our eyes.

Wait for it…. 

Because Jesus is coming.

Forever

Some day He will tenderly wipe away our tears. No more grief. No more sorrow.

There will be laughter. Singing. 

And we will dwell in the radiant light of His presence. Absolute joy. Forever and ever.

Wait for it….

“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them
and will be their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said,
‘Look, I am making everything new.’”
Revelation 21:3-5a

Come, Lord Jesus.

What about you?

Walking into 2021, which of His promises are you holding onto?  Living in “the already, but not yet” of eternity, what are you anticipating about “everything new”?

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10 replies on “Wait for it”

Thanks for sharing this, Susan. I’m looking forward to that day – Revelation 21. It led me to write the song, “New Jerusalem”

Chorus:
Jesus, I long to see You
Come down from heaven;
The hope of New Jerusalem
Keeps me alive

What a great way to start the year! One of my favorite old movies wouldn’t play from the DVD this year – so I sat down and remembered it! What a great way to keep my heart attentive – replaying His goodness daily!

Our prayers are much like old movies. Dialogue is in our heads and on our lips and we know how our devotions end. But even before such thoughts are birthed our Lord knows beginning, middle and end of our supplications. So might our prayers be said to be as much for self as for the Eternal One? After all we need the reinforcement and the constant reminder of his beauty and holiness, while he knows all things and our every thought. Through prayer we teach ourselves to honor, praise and love God through never-ending lessons taken from his word.

His promises that His mercy is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness! (Lam. 3:22-23)
That God is in our midst, He is mighty to save, He rejoices over us, quiets us with His love, rejoices over us with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)
Waiting and living in this in-between place, always makes me think of the Amy Grant song, “The Now & the Not Yet.”
He calls us to be faithful and obedient day by day, but our souls cry out (the world is crying out) for Him to come again…

I would love to hear from you!

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