Posts
“Old
Faithful”
By Susanne
Scheppmann
Key Verse:
Psalm
89:1-2, “I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will
make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your
love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven
itself. (NIV)
Devotion:
We
waited and waited. Then finally, I stood in awe as the geyser, Old Faithful,
spewed steaming water 150 feet into the air. The Yellowstone National Park
ranger told us that it was myth that the geyser shot into the air every
ninety-six minutes. He said it is faithful to spray the water, but not on man’s
timetable.
Doesn’t
that sound like God? Scripture repeatedly states that God is faithful beyond
our imagination. However, sometimes we doubt. The problem is that we want Him
to act in faithfulness according to our requests, standards, and time
allotment. We especially feel that way when problems rattle our lives. We ask,
“Where is the faithfulness of God right now?”
We
want the Lord to react like a genie in a bottle. We call out our wishes and we
demand He bring about miraculous results. I recently witnessed this attitude in
an unbelieving friend. She landed unexpectedly in the hospital with an
undiagnosed problem. Frustrated she said, “I cried out to God last night and He
didn’t help me! What kind of God is He?” Although, my friend never gave a
thought about God until a crisis arose, she expected His immediate help when
she called out. She demanded the Lord be faithful to her needs on her schedule.
Her disappointment resulted in a defiant attitude of doubt.
In
addition, I discovered another intriguing similarity between the geyser, Old
Faithful, and God’s faithfulness. The park guide explained after an earthquake,
the time between eruptions lengthened. Earthquakes in 1959, 1983, and 1998
increased the average length between the geyser’s eruptions from 76 minutes to
approximately 90 minutes. Just like Old Faithful, I have found that as God
increases my faith, He sometimes increases the time between my “earthquake” and
his rescue. By allowing a longer time span between crisis and aid, I must
believe in, rely on, and depend upon His yet unseen faithfulness.
Although
doubt of God’s faithfulness may raise its ugly head, He has never been
unfaithful to me. He may not rescue me as quick as I would like. He might
answer my cry in a way I do not expect. However, He will always aid me in the
manner that will help me increase my faith. He wants to teach me to sing of His
faithfulness regardless of my circumstances as the psalmist did.
God is our refuge and
strength,
an ever-present help in
trouble.
Therefore we will not
fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall
into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar
and foam
and the mountains quake
with their surging . . .
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
(Psalm 46:1-3, 10 NIV).
Yes,
just as I stood and waited in awe for Old Faithful in Yellowstone National
Park, I will wait in anticipation for God to show Himself faithful in my life.
I will be still and know He is God.” Will you wait with me?
Prayer:
Dear
Lord, help me to recognize Your faithfulness in my life. Aid me in
understanding that You work according to Your faithfulness and not my desires.
I pray that You increase my faith. Help me to relax and know that You are God.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application steps:
Jot
down the Power Verses for today on index cards. Keep them in a handy place, so
when you begin to falter in your belief in God’s faithfulness you can remind
yourself He is always faithful.
Refection points:
In
what areas of my life do I doubt God’s faithfulness?
Do
I expect God to react to my demands?
Does
my faith depend on my circumstances?
Power verses:
Romans
3:3, “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's
faithfulness?” (NIV)
Psalm
36:5, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the
skies.” (NIV)
Psalm
89:8, “O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your
faithfulness surrounds you. “(NIV)
Psalm
100:5, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness
continues through all generations. (NIV)
© 2006 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
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