Psalm 27: ¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 37: ⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

Psalm 40: 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

David had been chosen to by God to be the next King of Israel.  King Saul became exceedingly jealous as David’s popularity grew among the people of the nation and even within his own family.  David was forced to run for his life into exile and lived hidden in caves.  How many years was he forced to wait, hidden and at moments afraid for his life?  Some say 15 years.  All the while in those dark caves, alone with God–David was being prepared to become King.  There are times in which you note that David’s songs began with deep desperation wanting to know how God was going to perform His will; yet, David ended always with "wait upon the Lord." When we reach those moments of deep dark pits that we believe will overcome us, we need to be reminded within our soul to trust and wait.  God is still on His throne.  He is omnipotent, omniscient, and has already proven the depths of His love for you.  He has the perfect plan for your life and He continues to unfold it in His perfect timing.  So with patience, wait-trusting His heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLn0cRl-0GE

While waiting there are some steps you can take as follows:

1.  Pray.  There is power found in prayer.  Even if you do not know what to say, just sit quietly before God.  The Holy Spirit will make intercession for you.  Pray even if you are feeling frustrated or angry with God; because He knows already how you are feeling.  This prayer is not because God doesn’t know; but it gives Him the quiet time to soothe and comfort you.

2. If there is ever a time that you need to be studying your Bible morning and evening or sometimes all day long, it is when facing a valley.  It is better to have studied always, but especially during valleys.  How can you claim His promises, if you don’t know what they are?

3. Remember every trial (big or small) you have ever been through in the past and remember how God had carried you through.

4. Make a list of God’s promises concerning finances, illness, loss or whatever your valley is.  Keep those scriptures with you and reread them frequently

5. Find Christian Songs that declare His Might and Power and Love—hum them to your own self throughout the day.

6. Each morning make a list of those things for which you are thankful to God and read them to God.

7. Do not skip meals or do without sleep.  Even if you don’t want to eat, do it anyway.  If you awaken in the night, pray quietly while taking deep slow breathes—you can hear God’s response clearer when you quiet your own mind.  This is not your moment to diet or deprive yourself of sleep.

8. Neither should you spend all day in bed. Get up and put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time until you do finish that day something you can call an accomplishment—then say “Thank you, Lord for today.

^{Romans 3:}

¹⁹ Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

This is the good news proclaimed to the world.  The righteousness of God comes only by faith.  Why that is such good news is that without Grace, without someone else paying the penalties for my sins–I could never stand before an omniscient, righteous judge and be declared anything except guilty as charged and condemned to an eternity separated God.  God must remain the righteous Judge; therefore Christ paid the penalty for my sin so that I might be justified (declared not guilty)  by faith.  Beyond that, I am then proclaimed righteous by faith in Christ.  Not that I am in this earthly form found to be righteous as my conscience would proclaim every day loudly within me; yet, I am declared righteous by and before God Almighty.  That is true of every believer.  Oh, the depth of His great love.  How could I ever comprehend the mystery of God’s great compassion, love and sacrifice for us.- that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  He died for us though we were hostile toward Him.  Because of Christ, when Satan stands there to accuse me, telling me of my great unworthiness.  Or when the Devil throws your sins in your face and tells you that you do not deserve God’s love–that you only deserve condemnation and hell.  We must proclaim, "I know I deserve condemnation and hell, so what of it. There is one who bore all my shame and paid my penalty on the cross and His name is Jesus Christ.  Because of that, you with all your accusations can go away, I am with Him."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2X2Kh4Sn0Y&feature=related

Psalm 19: ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

This is the prayer of my heart.  As I expand my mission of writing through my books, emails and blogs; I feel even more the need for this prayer to become so written in my heart so that I may represent Christ in all that I do and never cause my redeemer a moment of sorrow.  The burdens of work cannot become the meditation of my heart.  The struggles with aging and health cannot deter me.  All of the things which are this life cannot be that which defines me; rather, my eyes must remain focused on my Lord, my strength and my redeemer.  I saw a dear Christian yesterday who reminded me that the closer we grow with Christ, the greater the trials that confront us; yet, we march on with Christ before us.  Our minds narrow their focus and all else becomes less important compared to seeking Him.  He becomes our Joy so that what would seem sorrow to the world becomes a blessing to those of us who follow Him.  He becomes our strength, so no task is too great as we go forth to spread His Gospel.  He becomes our passion.

Hebrews 12: 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Close your eyes and let this beautiful song by Stuart Townend be as a prayer from your heart today.  "Christ Be In My Waking"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4emGI1gHPA

^{Romans 11: 33} O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?

³⁵ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

³⁶ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

So often we search for answers looking to the explanations and words of scientists, teachers, and philosophers hoping to discover some rationale for the events of our lives.  We see disasters that befall the earth or even those that happen within our little world of self and cry out for explanations.  Yet, if we really looked around us or into the central core of our own hearts; shouldn’t the question be why does the world continue to even exist?.  Is there anything within me, apart from God’s Grace, that should allow me to be blessed with seeing a new sunrise?  He who is a just and righteous God, Creator of the Universe–why would He ever have considered giving the greatest sacrifice to establish a pathway for man to be justified and declared righteous?  This pride filled foolish bunch prefer to profane His very name.   Instead of asking why does God allow natural disasters, we should be asking why has He not flung this earth into the blazing sun and destroyed it?  The answer is Grace and Love.  He patiently awaits for each one that will accept His gift of salvation.  He wants to share His love, peace and joy with us; yet, we become so content with our little counterfeit joys that we cannot see Him.  We prefer our piece of broken Glass and never realize that His is the most exquisite diamond in comparison.  If you are reading this today, then you have been given this precious moment to have the opportunity to seek Him who has been calling your name to come. 

And for those who know Christ, we have a mission yet to carry out.  We are to continue to be a voice crying out through the wilderness of our lives, Prepare ye the way of the Lord–for He has come, died, was Resurrected and will return to take His children out of this world.   I do not know why God would have chosen me, wooed me, saved me and commanded me to write for Him; yet, He did.  Were I to look at all my failures, I would be paralyzed into inactivity; yet, He bids me to proclaim His Glory, His Grace, His kindness, His patience, and His love.  He took all my sins, my failures, and my guilt and nailed it to the cross with Christ bearing it.  Such love, such mercy, and such grace compels me to continue on. The trials that I have faced in this life have resulted in my seeking and knowing Him as my greatest treasure.  If it were not for the storms would I have ever come to know Him and trust Him as I do now. "Oh, Lord let me always proclaim thy truth and never allow me to misinterpret your precious love letters which were left to us in the Holy Bible.  I do not pretend to understand the depth of Your Wisdom in my life or in this world; but I praise You for every pain that led me ever closer to You.  Let your scripture penetrate the hearts of those who read this today, open the eyes of their heart so that they might see Your magnificent beauty and seek after You.  And Lord, let me be reminded that in your sovereignty, nothing will enter my life today that has not been sifted by Your mighty hand of love.  Give me Grace to always rejoice in Your perfect will, in Your perfect way. 

I Corinthians 1:

²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.

³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Below is a beautiful song that I do believe that if you close your eyes and listen will help you for today. 

Keith & Kristyn Getty – The Perfect Wisdom Of Our God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3MabWr5cM

I recommend that you go to http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns.aspx and order their newest album which includes this song.  The song was written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty; sung by Kristyn Getty.  Their music is so incredible and truth in worship.

Philippians 2: 1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things is to lay aside self to become a servant and to put others in the forefront while putting our own selfish desires and  agendas aside.  This is a task that often we find most difficult at work.  It is also a problem within many churches.  We must always be reminded that Christ did just that for each of us.  I pray that today, I stop to think before I speak.  That my focus remains on my Savior so that I might lay aside all envy, pride, guilt, feelings of inadequacy or self pity so that today I may work with my team to the fullest potential and most importantly represent Christ.  Give me the Grace that I need to show today–let it be your love, mercy, joy, and grace that fill me today so that none of self remains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmgpMfnjdU