Tag Archives: Patience

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

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~2 Pet 1:4-9 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

There’s so much spiritual meat in these verses! We could spend days sitting on these and still walk away lacking  :fat:

Peter starts out these verses by telling us that we have great and precious promises. We have the ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to partake in Christ’s divine nature – meaning that we have that ability to say no to sin because we no longer have sin as our master, but Christ! \o/ Praise the Lord, amen?

Peter continues in verse 5 to tell us that if we give ALL diligence to the Spirit’s fruit in our lives, we will abound (verse 7) and be fruitful in the knowledge of Christ! Christian lady, can you imagine what benefit this would be to you as you raise your children? Can you imagine the hurdles you would avoid in your marriage? The Lord says that if the fruit of verses 5 through 7 abound in you (are at work), you will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ! That’s powerful stuff, ladies! I honestly believe that the Proverbs 31 wife abounded in these fruit, don’t you? How else could she be so “perfect”? I always felt as though I was lacking when I compared myself to her. But now I know why!  :neutral: I need to abound in these fruit!!!! \o/ Thank You, Lord.

Practice makes perfect :) I’m thinking of writing these fruit on a Post-It Note at my desk, on my bathroom mirror, or anywhere that my eyes rest on. This will help me to be mindful of these fruit as I go about my day. If I see them, chances are I will be more aware of practicing them :) Here’s what I made up for myself :)

 

God’s Design

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~James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Today’s picture doesn’t seem like much – a small blue piece just stands out amongst the rest. Much like the trial that I am experiencing right now, this puzzle piece is only part of the picture. The Christian’s life is filled with various difficult times, drama, temptations, trials, and tribulations. Each represents one puzzle piece in the picture of our lives.

James encourages us to count it all joy when we go through various situations in life – why? Because the Lord is molding us and teaching us using all of these. Our spiritual lives are being formed with each one and in the end a beautiful work will be wrought by the Master!

So if each jigsaw piece represents an event in our lives where the Lord is teaching us and molding us, once they are all put together and the believer has yielded himself to the work of the Holy Spirit during each trial, a glorious result is produced to be the “image” of Christ. As James says, each trial of faith produces patience. We come to the realization that the Lord has not failed us and He is busy at work helping us through each one.

Now take today’s picture and see where it fits in when it is made complete! Absolutely beautiful! It is difficult to see the end result when one is in the midst of a trial. When one is suffering from pain or is experiencing family problems, the last thing on their mind is how beautiful it will all be in the end. But this is where James is encouraging us to concentrate our efforts. When we change our view of that trial and accept that the Lord is always there and is allowing the trial for His good purpose, we become patient knowing that it is all for His glory.

Be encouraged, dear Christian! You will be able to see the big picture one day and your patience will be rewarded!

Encouraging Ourselves

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~1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

David’s family had been taken, his town burned to the ground and there were threats of putting him to death. But David encouraged himself in the Lord. How? He turned to God in prayer (verse 8)! He remembered God’s goodness toward him in time of need.

But God did not always answer David’s prayers according to the way David wanted them to be answered. A good example was later on when David fasted and prayed during Bathsheba’s delivery of the baby conceived out of adultery and murder. I’m sure the baby’s death was not what David had hoped for. David continued in the Lord despite of the outcome.

How has it been with your prayer life? Have you forsaken it because God did not answer you the way you wanted? Thank God that His faithfulness is not dependent on ours! So many times we miss out on His blessings because we have given up too soon.

David continued to encourage himself in the Lord, his God! How can we do this? There are many ways! The Apostle Paul taught us:

~Philippans 4:7-9 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

When you think that God is not hearing, don’t give up on your faithfulness to Him. Continue on – press forward – think on all things that are good in your life – remember the blessings He has done for you – even if you have to dig to find them! Everyone of us who is born again can count the blessing of salvation as number one! And, to be perfectly honest with you, that should be enough :-)

Count it all joy, James says.

~James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

All that we go through in this lifetime will seem minuscule compared to the joys awaiting us in Heaven. But in the mean time, each trial will build our faith. As our faith builds, we develop patience for the upcoming trial knowing that the God of Heaven is still on His throne and desires to help us through each one. Our faith will be made sight one of these days. Therefore, build your faith – trust in your God – and think on all the things Paul encourages us to think on. You will be blessed!

Patience

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~James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Being patient in our “ministry for the Lord” is not always an easy thing. What is our ministry?  It’s not always a job, like a Pastor.  It is our path in life. For example, someone who has been through cancer can help others who are going through cancer.  Someone who has lost a child can help someone else who has lost a child.  Our life’s trials are a gift – a gift that we can share with others by helping them!  Yes, we tend to get weary at times. James encourages us to continue being patient – patient in our work – patient with our brothers and sisters in Christ – patient with being persecuted for righteousness sake.

~Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Through our trials, we build patience, understanding, compassion – our hearts become established in the Lord.  As we learn to immediately turn to the Lord in our time of need, we are able to teach another to do so. We are able to find our comfort, hope and peace in Him! How many Christians have you known who are going through major trials yet you see them surrounded by peace? This is that peace which cannot be explained!

~Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As we await the Lord’s return for us, let’s strive to keep our hearts established and firm on Him! Let’s share this gift we have received as a result of our trials!!  Don’t give up, Christian!! Christ is near!

Day-by-Day – Day 20 – Wait

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~ Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Waiting on the Lord is the hardest thing for man to do. It is our nature to resolve a problem or work out a situation right away. However, God’s will may not always be in it. No one likes conflict. No one enjoys going through a difficult marriage or living with chronic pain. Seeking solutions may be good but if they are not centered in God’s will, they will not bring joy.

When a dilemma engulfs you, wait on the Lord as Isaiah exhorts. God will renew your strength.  Before you make a decision that will put you on a fast pace to a future you may regret, let the Lord speak to you in His Word.  Do not make hasty decisions but let God be at the center of those decisions.  He promises to lift you up, strengthen you if you are weary, and give you the strength that you need to continue on.

No problem is too great for Him.  But He does not always work in the “here and now.”  Sometimes we need to sit back and wait to allow Him the opportunity to work in our situation. 

~Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

For the weary believer, waiting is not always what he wants to do.  He wishes to be rid of what weighs heavy on his heart.  That is the natural man’s way – but it is not God’s way.  Allow yourself time to see the hand of God at work in your life.  There is promise in waiting!

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