God's Response to Our Response

Scripture:
But as for me, I watch for the Lord;
    I await the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7

Observation: Micah has outlined the fault of Israel, defined their judgment and punishment from Assyria, and is now describing their exile. It will be a time of slavery - they will do work like pressing olives and grapes, but will not partake of oil and wine. They will grow weary and angry, and the surviving remnant will turn on each other in anger and frustration. However, Micah concludes with this statement of his own faith ... he will watch for the Lord, and God will hear him.

It is logical to assume the conclusion is just the last five words ... "my God will hear me." That is a declaration of hope. However, it is also God's response to the first part of the sentence ... Micah will actively watch for the Lord, wait on his timing, and anticipate his salvation. Micah has faith that God's salvation will come, but he will prepare for that salvation by himself taking the action to watch and wait patiently.

Application: I have previously observed that in the case of love, God acts first. God grants his love to all of us while we are still sinners. However, after showing us his love, God then further responds to our actions. These actions take the form of prayer and faith. This has been true back to ... forever. God loved Adam, but Adam's active response was failure. Others faired better, like Noah and Abraham. From Job to Daniel, we see many examples of this pattern ... God loves, we respond with action, and God further responds to our situation.

I seek to continually respond to God. I have said before that I need to be better and more persistent in my prayer life. This is critical, as I do wish for a deeper relationship with God and I know this - my lack of engagement in prayer - is a roadblock that I control. I see God's love, and I will seek to respond to it more and more, in faith and in prayer.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your love that you pour on me and my family. I love you, as I know you first loved me, and I will continue to engage with you daily. May I seek you in both hard times, and in simply daily life. You are my source of life, my source of love, and my source of hope, and I will watch for your, Lord, every moment. Amen.