Devo from 7/21/2024-Bob Bartelme Sermon, Oakbrook Church Oshkosh

This weeks devo is a little different as it comes from 600 miles away from Olathe.  I attend a little church while in Wisconsin every year for the Airventure Airshow. The message was definitely enlightening to me. It was preached by Pastor Bob Bartelme of Oakbrook church. 

The title of the message, “The Patient Wait”, focused on prayers of lament.  Now for me, lament is a word I never thought much about.  In Hebrew it simply means to cry out or wail. What I never thought of is the God is asking us to tell him (lament) what we are going through. 

Lamenting is an exercise in humility. God wants us to make ourselves low so, in His timing, He can lift us up.  By lamenting to God we are praising Him and proving our trust in Him. 

Psalm 5 is a time when David was lamenting for Gods direction and guidance to make it through the day against his many adversaries. (There are 39 verses in Psalm alone that have individual laments) But look at what David does in verse 12- “For you, LORD, bless the righteous one; you surround him with favor like a shield.”

David is acknowledging his belief and trust in the promises of God. In fact he made a habit of speaking out the promises of God during his times of lamenting. (Psalm 3:3,4; 4:7,8; 13:5,6; and lots more verses). 

We can learn from David.  In our trials we should get into the presence of God, boldly tell Him what we are going through, then speak out and declare His promises!  He is Faithful!!  Try it!

Spend time in His presence today!