Long for, wait expectantly for the Lord for clarity (Hosea 10:12, Isaiah 30:18-22)

Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. -  Hosea 10:12 

• The idea of "breaking up my unplowed ground" is wonderful and impossible without God. Receiving a fresh word from the Lord, preparing our hearts (Jer 4:3)
• The Easter message at church was on Romans 10, God makes saving faith available to all people, yet some reject it. Troy's big idea was that people misunderstand what being a Christian is. 
• Often times we want to reap the fruit and blessing but miss that it comes from "seeking the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain"

Isaiah 30:18 is interesting. The LORD is longing for us, who are longing for him. Watching for plants to grow and bloom in the spring and summer. My friend Javon had vision of flower growing in terrible conditions (wind, hail storm, cement ground). A person interpreted it as a picture of him growing. We gave out Jesus Centered Bibles and 101 promises from Psalms cards. Encouraging each guy at TC to share what they are learning with eachother, change the themselves and their world. 

 "So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help." NLT

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" NIV

"Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." ESV

"Therefore the LORD waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them]." AMP

To "long for" something means to have a strong, often heartfelt or persistent, desire or craving for it, especially something that might be unattainable or not readily available. It implies a deeper level of wanting than a simple "want" or "desire". The feeling can be likened to a yearning or pining for something. 

• Strong Desire: It's not just a casual wish; it's a deep and powerful yearning. 
• Persistence: The longing might be for something that's distant in time or space, or even something that's not currently possible. 
• Emotional Connection: It often involves a sentimental or emotional attachment to the desired object or experience. 
• Can be about past, present, or future: It can be a longing for something in the past (nostalgia), for something present (a specific need or want), or for something in the future (a desired outcome). 

Psalm 37:34 - Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Lamentations 3:25-26 - The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. / It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Micah 7:7 - But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

Psalm 27:14 - Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

Psalm 130:5 - I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope.

James 5:7-8 - Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Psalm 33:20 - Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield (faith).

Psalm 62:5  -  Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

Isaiah 40:31 -  But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.

Romans 8:24-25 - For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

Hebrews 10:36 - You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Psalm 25:3 - Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.

Psalm 25:21 - May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.

Isaiah 30:19-22 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,

    you will weep no more.

He will be gracious if you ask for help.

    He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food

    and suffering for drink,

he will still be with you to teach you.

    You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Your own ears will hear him.

    Right behind you a voice will say,

“This is the way you should go,”

    whether to the right or to the left.

Then you will destroy all your silver idols

    and your precious gold images.

You will throw them out like filthy rags,

    saying to them, “Good riddance!”

Lord I see where you are pointing me, thank you for still teaching me, graciously guiding me and helping me take the next step of faith. Help me to wait for you, to have patience and trust in your word - not relying on myself, but putting my life in your hands. Help me to trust and obey. In Jesus name.