November 30: Waiting Like a Watchman
What are you waiting on God for right now?
“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
Picture a night watchman on an ancient city wall. It’s cold and dark. He’s tired. He’s been watching for hours. And there’s one thing he wants more than anything: morning. He knows it’s coming. He just has to keep watching until it does.
The psalmist says his soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. More than watchmen wait for the morning. He says it twice, like someone who’s been staring at the horizon a long time.
Most people in recovery are waiting on something. A relationship to heal. A child to call. Finances to recover. Health to improve. A craving to finally go quiet. The feeling of God’s nearness to come back. And waiting is hard. It’s tempting to stop watching.
This month has been about Step Eleven. Prayer in the morning, through the day and at night. Meditating on God’s Word. Gratitude, even on hard days. Praying for His will, not just your wishes. Every one of those practices is a way of keeping watch. Staying awake to God while you wait.
The psalm gives the key. In His word I hope. The watchman doesn’t hope because he can see light yet. He hopes because he knows how mornings work. The sun has never failed to rise. God’s word works the same way. His promises have never failed. That’s what you can lean on in the dark.
December brings the season of Advent, when Christians around the world remember another kind of waiting. People waited centuries for the promised Savior. And He came. In the middle of the night, in a small town, to people who’d almost stopped watching.
Next month turns to Step Twelve. Carrying the message and practicing these principles in all your affairs. The prayer life you’ve built this month is what you’ll carry it with. You can’t give away what you don’t have.
One thing today
Write down the thing you’re most waiting on God for. Under it, write one promise from Scripture you can hold onto while you wait. Read it every morning this week.
A prayer
Lord, I’m waiting. Some nights it feels long. But I hope in Your word. Keep me watching, keep me praying, and let me see Your morning when it comes. Amen.
Step Eleven continues every day. Tomorrow starts Step Twelve.
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