Forty Days in the PsalmsSample

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." (Psalm 5:3)

Before cell phones, I (Shawn) wrote more letters. Days would pass before I would start watching for a letter in the mailbox. I knew what time the mail would be delivered and started anticipating the moment of sorting the mail, looking for that response. I still do it now, though mostly by email. I write. I send. When it’s important, I watch. I wait.

This is David’s posture in this Psalm. It seems his sacrifice in the morning is his prayer, his song. He offers it, and he watches. How will God respond? When will God answer?

Waiting is an ingredient of a close relationship. When we converse with someone we know and love, we don’t do all the talking. We talk. We watch. We wait. Hurry is the enemy of love. How many friendships have been destroyed by impatience? I am rarely at my best in a hurry. Are you?

Watching and waiting are parts of faithful worship. Because I care about what God thinks, I watch for His response. He may say no to what I ask. Or “not now.” But because I love God, I will continue watching.

Jesus taught His followers the same principle. On the night He was betrayed, He prayed while they fell asleep. He woke them and said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).

As we continue in these 40 days, pray. But also, watch. You don’t want to miss what God wants you to see.

RESPOND IN PRAYER:

Watch and wait for a few moments when you pray today. Stay alert throughout the day for God's response and His activity. Thank Him when the answer comes.