Encouragement
The Bible says much about 'Waiting on the Lord'.....by being patient and by persevering.
We are to:
~ wait in Prayer
~ wait in Faith
~ wait in Quietness and Calmness
"I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me and heard my cry."
(Psalms 40:1)
In the devotional booklet Our Daily Bread, Joe Stowell wrote:
"Patience is not just a virtue, it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) which means that demonstrations of impatience reveal the sour fruit of our fallen hearts, rather than the sweetness of Jesus in ourselves. Since God is a patient God, when we abandon patience, we miss the opportunity to show the world the Glory of God through our lives."
In Luke 21:19 Jesus said, "In your patience, possess you your souls."
I think of the 'soul' as our entire being now....and not just the Eternal part.
So no matter 'who, what, where nor when', let Christ control you....
not circumstances nor age.
I mention 'age' for at 80 yrs. of age, sometimes it is more difficult to 'be patient'.
But I remind myself that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb.13:8)
By His Spirit, He lives in me and wishes to live 'out from me' to others.
So we're not talking about 'age' but about 'perseverance'.
Life is not to be a 'rat race' but a race with Christ.
The word 'perseverance' is not used much in the Bible, but it is the theme throughout the Scriptures.
From prison, Paul wrote to young Timothy:
"Fight the good fight, keep the faith (let faith keep you) and finish the course."
(II Tim. 4:7) See also Phil. 3:12-14.
The older we get, the more patience we need....
and hope that people will be patient with us 'old folk'.
In over 55 yrs. in pastoral/missionary ministries, we have found that the key is not re-acting to 'who or what' comes our way, but responding in a Christ-like manner.
The Bible uses 'long suffering of God' (Exodus 34:6) for His patience toward us.
Allow Him to give that to you!
God did to Job....and he received the blessings of God (read the last chapter of Job)
Thus the Bible pictures patience, not as a desperate waiting-in-doubt, but a hopeful waiting-in-confidence.
James 5:7-8 pictures it as a good farmer, faithfully working and waiting for harvest.
La Moyne has been going through physical therapy for her injured shoulders the past two months.
The therapist (who was one of our young girls when I pastored Bethel Baptist here in Norman) comes to our home 3 times each week. Several weeks ago when La Moyne was wondering if she was getting any better, Kelly reminded La Moyne that the word 'patient' comes from the word 'patience'.
Referring back to the 'Hall of Faith' in Hebrews 11:
"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross."
(Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)
"Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete."
(James 1: 2-4 NIV)
God is patient with us (Ps. 86:15) so we should be patient with others.
If we choose patience, God will help; if we choose impatience, satan will help....
and it will hurt God and His mission.
A sense of humor help as many things are just not serious enough to rupture relationships by being impatient.
Finally, be patient with yourself....
and with God's help you can become the person and witness that God wants you to be.
"More Like The Master" (by Charles H. Gabriel)
"More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility.
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.
Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own.
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.
More like the Master is my daily prayer;
More strength to carry crosses I must bear;
More earnest effort to bring His kingdom in...
More of His Spirit, the wanderer to win.
More like the Master I would live and grow...
More of His love to others I would show.
More self denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be."
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You are so truthful..we never have enough "Waiting on the Lord". Thank you Travis and La Moyne for reminding...and directing us.
We are not to get busy...neglecting this fact. Especially this thanksgiving Day...May you both be blessed forever...Amen
You have written another heart-felt piece where Jesus shines right though your words. Thanks again for the blessing. In Christ's Love,
Julia