Posted on by Renee Meyer

Confession: I’m not doing so great at this Advent thing

December goes fast for me, I assume for you too.

I have loved getting to think and talk about Waiting on God with so many people this Advent season, but I have a confession: I’m not doing a lot of waiting on God, at least not at the moment. Last week was full of meetings and the weekend was holiday parties and wedding showers and one concert and performance after another. Sleigh bells are ringing and drummer boys are dancing and the halls are decked and I am already worn out. PLUS I’ve barely made a dent in my Christmas shopping. Sigh.

Everything that is filling my days is GOOD, I know not everyone can say that. But I’m not taking the time to breathe, to give thanks, to notice all this goodness. And I’m finding myself snappish if not yell-y with my kids. Truth: I’ve made both the younger two cry this week, and it’s only Tuesday.

When things are this busy, the problem is not that I don’t have a moment to sit still, to embrace stillness, to remember the reason we’re celebrating. I have those moments. But when things are this busy, the lure of my phone, of mindlessly passing the time is so strong. I haven’t even been trying to resist it. I’m on my phone first thing in the morning, last thing at night and way too often through the days.

Waking up to my phone, wasting the few quiet morning moments I have, not leaving any breathing room in my December days is clearly not working for me.

What am I going to do?

Well for starters, I just stopped typing and spent a few moments praying, confessing to God what I just confessed to you. Remembering that His grace is for this moment, receiving His presence, embracing His love. And I asked Him what to do.

The first thing that comes to mind is not a shocker: I need to put my dang phone down.

I need to commit to not touching my phone in the morning until I’ve read, prayed, done the things I know my soul needs first thing in the morning.

I need to think of a few slow things I enjoy doing and choose those things instead of messing around on my phone, grabbing quiet moments in my day.

I need to slow down and give my kids my full attention when I’m with them. I want to respond to their rambunctiousness with attention, not aggravation.

I need to slow down and give LIFE my full attention. Checking things off a to do list isn’t living. Checking social media isn’t living.

I don’t want to rush and grouch my way through December.

How’s your Advent going?

 

Not Great at AdventPicture used in image Photo by Dimitri Yakymuk on Unsplash

Posted on by Renee Meyer

Waiting Patiently on God

Waiting Patiently on God

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him… Psalm 37:7

Does patience come easily to you, or is waiting a struggle?

My patience is subjective and situational. Now that my daily life doesn’t involve 3 year olds who insist on doing everything themselves, I find it easy to wait on a toddler who wants to zip her own jacket.  It is harder, but I choose to be patient with my kids (most of the time) when they’re acting their age. And I try to practice patience when waiting in line, as a driver, all the normal patience-testing parts of being alive.

But I am not so patient with myself. I get frustrated and discouraged to struggle with the same issues year after year. I know I’m growing and changing, but it’s so much easier to see how far I have to go, rather than how far I’ve come.

And it’s never actually occurred to me that I need to be patient with God. But that is the command in Psalm 37: Wait patiently on the Lord.

The instruction to rest in the Lord and wait patiently on Him sounds quite passive to me. But the psalmist isn’t telling us to sit out of life and do nothing. The Hebrew words translated here are active words. The word for rest does mean to be silent and still. But the word translated “wait patiently” has child-birth undertones: travailing, bringing forth. Birthing is definitely not a passive image of waiting.

What are you waiting on God for?Are you waiting patiently?

I think about the things that make me anxious. Things I’d like to manage or control, outcomes I’d like guaranteed. I think about the unknowns in my future, about the uncertainties in my present. I think about advent and the kind of Christmas season I’d prefer to have (but may not even be a reasonable expectation, given my family and circumstances.)

In those things, what would it look like for me to be silent before God?

In those things, what would it look like for me to wait patiently on God to work, like a mother bearing down as she gives birth?

I don’t necessarily like my answers to these questions, and I don’t love the idea that waiting on God is like childbirth. Because birth involves pain, and silence doesn’t come easily to me.

However.

If I really believe that what God is doing in my life is good… If I believe in His presence and goodness, if I believe the outcome of my waiting is new life, joy, relationship, love…. If I trust God, can I choose to wait patiently?

The people of Israel waiting for generations for the promise of the Messiah to show up in the person of Jesus. Are we willing to wait?

Open up before God, keep nothing back; He’ll do whatever needs to be done:

He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day  and stamp you with approval at high noon. Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. (Psalm 37:5-7, The Message)

 

Journaling Prompts:

How do you respond to the idea of patient waiting as being work, active, like childbirth? Is this helpful imagery, or hard to get your mind around? Why?

What are you waiting on God for? Is it easy or hard for you to be patient in this waiting? Why?

What in God’s character and your history with Him helps you to wait patiently on HIm?

 

This is today’s devotional from Waiting on God: A 4 week Advent Devotional, which started last week. If you’re interested: You can purchase the Ebook here, or SIGN UP HERE to receive it for free via email (starting with tomorrow’s devotional).

I’ve been amazed and encouraged that so many have purchased or signed up, it is such a gift to be on this journey with so many!

Posted on by Renee Meyer

Waiting on God in Silence

Waiting on God in Silence (1)

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation… Psalm 62:1

Historically Advent is a season of quiet waiting. God’s people wait in stillness for His arrival, His coming, God-With-Us. We will conclude Advent singing of silent wonder. It is one of my favorite memories of Christmases past and present: A quiet church with voices, and perhaps candles, raised, singing “Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright.”

The irony of that song in what we’ve made of this season never fails to get my attention. Sometimes it is funny and sometimes heartbreaking. Silent Night, Holy Night? If I want any quiet at all during the Christmas season, I have to fight for it, and fight hard.

Because Christmas can be LOUD.

This season is a cacophony of lists, lists of things we want, lists of things to buy, lists of good deeds to do, lists of gatherings to attend. December clangs with the music of parties, the raised voices of maybe more family time than anyone needs, the strident call of all the obligations and expectations we put on ourselves. For some of us, this season is also loud with the wail of unspoken pain. Lost loved ones, lost hopes and dreams, loneliness.

What would it look like, in the midst of this loud season, to carve out some quiet for your soul? Can you choose a regular daily time to step out of your lists, to turn off the noise, to take your pain or your joy and sit in silence with God?

Can you reserve some moments at the beginning or end of your day to sit with Jesus and wait? Perhaps over your lunch hour, or your littles’ nap time?

I am convinced our souls need more silence than this loud world provides. Don’t wait for Christmas Eve to enjoy a silent moment.

I invite you to join me during this season of Advent, to set aside time to intentionally, purposefully wait on God, in silence.

My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:5-8)

Journaling Prompts:

What feels loud in your life right now?

As you step into this advent season, where can you set aside some time to be quiet, to be with Jesus and learn to wait on God?

What is your hope this Advent season? What do you want from God, for what are you waiting?

 

This was day 1 of my 4 week Advent Devotional: Waiting on God, which started on Monday. If you’re interested:

You can purchase the Ebook here, or

SIGN UP HERE to receive it for free via email (starting with tomorrow’s devotional).

I’ve been amazed and encouraged that so many have purchased or signed up, it is such a gift to be on this journey with so many.

Posted on by Renee Meyer · 1 Comment

I Have an Early Christmas Gift for YOU!

A week from Thanksgiving, I can feel the pressure of the Christmas season bearing down on us.

Our family is 2 adults, 3 kids, 5 sets of grandparents, and more cousins than I can count, scattered over 6 states. Like yours, my Christmas involves lists and recipes and travel and gift wrap and parties, and perhaps more festivity than one woman can handle.

It’s easy for me to lose Jesus in the middle of all of that.

I learned a long time ago that I need to set aside time in December to sit still. To be quiet. To make space for my soul, to reserve some of my attention for prayer, journaling, God’s Word.

My celebration of Jesus on December 25th is so much richer and more meaningful when I make room, daily, to turn my eyes to Jesus throughout the month of December.

Would you like to join me in observing Advent this year? I  invite you to clear some space in your December to listen, to be quiet, to turn your eyes to Jesus. Come, celebrate Advent with me?

Traditionally, the Christian Church has observed Advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Remembering the years humanity spent waiting for the Messiah King. Reminding ourselves that we wait still, for Jesus to fulfill His Kingdom and redeem and restore this earth and His people.

With that in mind, I’ve written an Advent study exploring different aspects of Waiting On God.

“Waiting on God: A 4 Week Advent Devotional” will walk us through the weeks leading up to Christmas, inviting us to sit with Jesus, to welcome Him into our Christmas preparations, allowing us to make space to listen to Him and respond.

AVAILABLE NOW:

Sign up here to receive Waiting on God: An Advent Devotional for free. From Monday 11/27 through Monday 12/25, you’ll receive an email with that day’s devotional. Each will include a scripture to meditate on, my devotional thoughts, and journaling prompts to lead you deeper into your own experience of waiting on God through the advent season.

COMING SOON:

I am making the entire study available for sale as a PDF download,  for those of you who prefer a study that you can hold in your hands.

I have loved putting this together for you – I hope you’ll join me!

 

Waiting on God Advent Devotional (Insta)