Morning Devotional

March 23, 2004

"A Lesson From Macy" 

by Don Emmitte

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Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:1-7 NLT).

The story of Job contains a lot of lessons. We hear people talk about the patience of Job, but what about the patience of God? Job is a lot better saint than I am. But, even he finally gave it up. He'd had it up to his ears. After all, he was good. After all, he had tried. He stood before God and in effect said, "I will question You, and You will answer me." And God said, "NO, I will question you and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" And the questions then come one after another after another until finally Job says, "In Hebrew with great profundity 'Oops.'"

We have a wonderful dog in our house. She is getting on in years, but still has a spark about her. Macy, a salt and pepper Schnauzer, has found the way into our hearts through the last twelve years. There are many reasons for that. I have found that no matter what she has been consistent in her love for all of us in our family. Like so many things in my life, I have learned something about God through her.

I’m usually the first one up in the morning. Usually that’s pretty early anyway, but regardless of how early it is, Macy is ready to get up with me. My routine is pretty simple. She is pretty patient about waiting for me to get to the door to let her out. Even when I let her in from her morning romp around the yard, she is still patient. She doesn’t bark or growl, but waits for me to get her food and water refilled quietly. She just stands there by the water bowl, because she knows that if she needs water I will provide it.

Sometimes we want to manipulate God so much. "Lord? Lord? Lord? Aunt Gertrude has a lot of money and I'm in trouble and I'm struggling so much. Do you think you could put it on her heart just to send me a little?" We don't just make a request, or as it were, stand by the water bowl. We've got to tell Him exactly the kind of water we want, and how to get it, and where to place it. Seems to me that it is great joy and great growth to stand by the water bowl.

Have you ever thought that God wants us to be as patient with Him as he is with us? That may be the hardest thing for us to do in our lives. But, it is the most rewarding. I have found that when I ask for God to simply provide, he always goes beyond my imagination. Why limit God with your ideas and thoughts. Trust him. He won’t let you down!