Devotional that really touched me...

Today's homeschool email devotional really touched my heart so I thought I'd share it:

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).







My daughter's riding lesson had gone well that day. I was proud to see her riding correctly at both a walk and trot, and I knew she was looking forward to cantering soon. As she circled the arena for the last time, I shouted, "It's time to quit for the day, so we can finish the rest of our schoolwork. Bring her in, and we'll brush her down together."






As my daughter turned her horse back toward the paddock, she replied, "OK, Mom, but watch this." Thinking she was ready to handle the extra speed, she cued her horse into a canter. I shook my head "no" at her, but her horse was already moving so fast she could barely hang on to the reins. As her horse took control and increased its speed to a full gallop, I knew my daughter was in trouble. Quickly, I ran in front of the gate to slow down her horse. Instead, her horse applied its full brakes and stopped dead in its tracks. However, my daughter didn't stop. She flew through the air and hit the fence with her chest. As I picked her up, she couldn't breathe, and I thought her windpipe had been broken. Fortunately, only the air had been completely knocked out of her lungs, and she was OK after several anxious minutes. "I'm sorry, Mom," she said when she was finally able to speak. "I thought I could handle the speed."






The real lesson my daughter learned that day deals with the same pride that causes many of us Christians to fall. Not willing to wait on the Lord, we too run ahead and attempt to take the reins. We forget who is in control and make unsound financial decisions or foolish choices based on our emotions, not expecting to be hurt in the process! God may even tell us "no," but we ignore Him and let our pride tell us we can handle it. We run into problems and pain we could have avoided if we had just waited on the Lord.






Are you struggling with waiting on God today? Is your anxious attitude becoming like the world's that says, "I can't take this anymore. I'll take care of it myself"? Be careful! Running ahead of God may find you lying on your back someday as you struggle to pray and ask Him for help. "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him" (Lamentations 3:25).






Lord, teach me to "be still" and know You are God. Help me to trust in Your answers instead of my own and wait for the best You have planned for me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
 
The above was taken from Daily Focus from aophomeschooling.com.