The very first Bible verse I ever memorized was Isaiah 40:31, “… those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength …”

I memorized it as a challenge shared with my best friend Kathleen. As I look back now, I am thankful God works in the hearts of those who wait on Him. There are thousands of surveys each year that says that people in the U.S. want to celebrate the holidays with less materialism, less business. But it’s hard when we live in a culture where all roads lead to the shopping mall or to online shopping when TV ads bombard us daily.

Instead of filling these upcoming days with activity and ending up physically and spiritually depleted, I want you to recall,

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Even with your busy mom calendar of school and church programs and family obligations, you can still carve out time to “wait on the Lord” and concentrate on the true meaning of this season. We can choose to make the most of our times of daily Bible reading and prayer and to give our precious little ones and loved one’s priority over things. Paul taught that a heart overflowing with thankfulness comes from being grounded in faith (Colossians 2:7).

In Philippians, he pleaded with the believer, even repeating himself:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

As we take the time to focus on Christ and to strengthen our relationship with Him, this time of year can become a season of renewal instead of exhaustion. God does not want us to be grumbling and exhausted. He desires a heart that waits on Him, a heart of gratitude. What will you choose?

Blessings,

Sandra Maddox