God Is Patient

It’s no surprise that as I pray to be more patient, God presents me with opportunities to cultivate patience in my character, by way of people who try my patience, as well as situations that require me to wait for a change after I’ve done my part. (I’ve concluded that a lot of the time after you’ve done everything you can do under your own power, you’re to pray and wait.)  Yes, God has a sense of humor, indeed.  And he is an answerer of prayers.

Patience is a godly trait, as love is patient, and God is love (1 Co 13:4; 1 Jn 4:16).  And we’re encouraged to be godly (Ti 2:11-15).  So my prayer is:

‘Lord, help me to be wise and patient, overlooking offenses. 

Help me to have persuasive patience.  Let me value patience over my own pride. 

I pray that I be an imitator of you Lord, showing kindness, tolerance, and patience that others may see you in me and be lead to repentance.  And I thank you Lord God for showing me the same grace and mercy! 

Although my anger might be justified, Lord let me keep from showing my wrath, as you do.

I know that I show myself to be your child when I’m understanding, patient and kind.

Lord, help me to work out my salvation so that I may reap the fruit of the Spirit, of which patience is a part.

I pray -as Paul did for the church in Colosse- that all believers be strengthened with all power according to God’s glorious might that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to you the Father, who’s qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints.

I pray that I clothe myself in patience daily as one of your chosen Lord God.   

Lord, I know that I’m always in danger of becoming lazy and falling away from the body, so bless me with a mind to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what you’ve promised; examples like your prophets who spoke in your name Lord.

Yes, the patience of the Lord means salvation, and I thank you again Lord God for your patience that has lead me to salvation!  Help me to reflect your patience Lord!  These things I pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.’

(Pr 19:11; 25:15; Ecc 7:8; Ro 2:4; 9:22; 2 Co 6:6; Ph2:12; Gal 1:11; 3:12; Heb 6:12; Jas 5:10; 2 Pe 3:15)

Be Encouraged

Encouragement plays such a big part in the walk of one trying to follow Christ.  In fact, it’s absolutely essential.  Throughout the Bible, we ourselves are not only encouraged by God’s word, but charged to encourage one another as well (Tit 2:15; Isa 1:17; Eph 6:22; Col 4:8).  The writer (who we believe to be Paul) of Hebrews was divinely inspired by God to pen these words, ‘…(E)ncourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness’ (3:13).  Here, Today is contrasted with the Day (of ultimate judgment), so we’re presented with many opportunities to admonish (which involves warning and urging, in addition to encouraging) one another in everyday that proceeds our day of judgment.  For those who trust in the Lord, the forthcoming Day is not a looming threat, but an encouragement to, not only find joy in working for the Lord, but to admonish others to share in that joy as well.  For the Christian, there is no suffered loss, whether it’s Today or the Day (Php 1:20-26).  To live is Christ and to die is gain (Php 1:21).  How’s that for encouragement?  If you’re on God’s side you win, no matter what!

There is no real encouragement outside of God’s word (2 Ti 4:2).  Any other words spoken are just flowery and deceptive, with no basis, or promise.  Be careful not to accept negative ‘encouragement’, which we’re all susceptible to (Ps 64:5).  That is why we’re encouraged to regularly meet with those who are strengthening themselves in God’s word (Heb 10:25).  Iron sharpens iron, indeed (Pr 27:17)! 

It’s not only for the prophet, the gifted, or the seemingly strong to encourage (Ac 15:32; Ro 12:8; 15:1).  We can all be an encouragement, at least in prayer.  Remember, Job in his affliction had the heart to pray for his friends (who were supposed to be an encouragement to him), and as a result of his act of faith, he was then prospered (Job 42:10)!  It’s not only for the benefit of others that we should encourage.

God is our source for all things.  Through Jesus Christ himself and God our Father we have eternal encouragement (2 Th 2:16-17).  And if -and when- we become weak, God has a ready ear to listen to our desires and our cries (Ps 10:17).  With that thought in mind, I want to encourage you to go to Him who’s not only ready to hear you, but has all the power in heaven and earth to positively affect your circumstance.              

After You've Done Everything to Stand...

Okay, it’s another day of battle soldiers, and we’ve been commanded to be strong in the Lord’s mighty power.  Our enemy has been identified as the Devil, who we are to stand against.  His tactic is schemes.  Don’t be misled by focusing on the tangible.  Human resources are not fitting for this struggle.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood.  Understand, our battle is spiritual against rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  We are instructed to put on the full armor of God, so that we may be able to stand our ground, and after we’ve done everything to stand, we’re told to stand some more, but it must be with God’s full armor (Eph 6:10-14):

Belt:  Make sure every piece of armor is bound with truth, as well as the loins of your mind, so that nothing is ensnared.  Without a secure belt, you will not be able to move freely, and you’re in danger of stumbling and falling (Eph 6:14; 1Pe 1:13-16 KJV) .

Breastplate:  Make sure you’re righteous, both in status and in character.  Let your righteous character be the defense of your vital organs, such as your heart (Eph 6:14; Ro 3:21-23; Pr 4:23).  Don’t be like King Ahab, who’s questionable character caused a flaw in his armor, which was pierced by an arrow, resulting in his death (1 Ki 16:30; 21; 22:31-35). Without a strong and secure breastplate, any attack can prove fatal, but with it, strikes will merely graze the armor.

Feet shod:  Walk in peace, as Christ did, promoting unity (Eph 2:14-16; 6:15).  Reconciliation to God is offered to all.  And those who accept it have the peace of mind to walk freely as one approved by God (Ro 5:1; Mt 5:9; 1 Jn 1:9).  Peace protects the soldier of God’s feet, as the legionary wore heavily reinforced sandals that were as protective, and possibly more comfortable, than today’s combat boots.  They were made with thick leather soles studded with hobnails, enabling them to have secure tread on almost any terrain.  Leather thongs could be laced calf-high, and stuffed with wool for warmth and protection.

Shield:  The large, leather-covered shield, which is your faith, is to be soaked in water and carried to extinguish fire-tipped arrows (Eph 6:16 Heb11:1, 6; Pr 26:18).  Your shield itself -if not accompanied by a will to carry it- is useless (Jas 2:17).  Although it may be heavy, it offers a great deal of protection.  Don’t put it down!  A Roman soldier’s shield was curved to deflect the full force of an attack.  In the center was a metal knob, which enabled the shield to be used as an offensive weapon, by knocking the Enemy back.

Helmet:  Salvation is to cover your head as a helmet (Eph 6:17).  God designed this gift to be received, not earned (Eph 2:8-9).  The purpose is for reconciliation to Him, for the purpose of his predestined work for you (Eph 2:10).  Bronze, on iron, on leather, absorbed shock.  A back shield protected the neck.  A front ridge protected the face.  And pieces at the cheeks protected the face and ears. (I’m sure Malchus wished he had a helmet when he came across an angry Peter [Jn 18:10].)

Sword:  Success in battle depends on skillfully wielding our sword, which is the very Word of God (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 2:15; Heb 4:12).  Don’t worry about how you will perform.  The Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance all that you’ve trained in (Jn 14:26).

Prayer:  And don’t forget to communicate continuously with God, who will, lead, encourage, and ensure your victory (1 Co 15:55-57).  By (praying) God’s word you have the power to speak and make the Enemy flee, the power to speak and move mountains, the power to bind and loose (Lk 4:1-13; Mt 11:23; 18:18).

We’re more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Ro 8:37).  Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ (2 Co 2:14)!  With Christ we are guaranteed victory!  So, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, and stand, then stand some more (Eph 6:10-14).  With him we are able!

                    

Be Anxious for Nothing

If this post isn’t for me, I don’t know who it’s for.  I’ve been obsessing (slightly) over the success of this blog (that I started less than THREE weeks ago.  I know! Crazy.).  It’s just that I’m so excited about it, and I want to see it succeed.  I can attempt to justify my attitude towards this endeavor as an earnest wishing all I want, but the Bible tells me to approach this situation -and those like it- differently.  Anxiety has no place in a Christian’s life, whether they’re uneasy and brooding, or ardently waiting.  It’s not fitting for those who call themselves spiritual siblings of the Prince of Peace.  So, based on his example, I’m trying to get some of that faith that results in peace like Jesus had when he was fast asleep in the midst of a storm.  No. Correction.  A furious squall (Mk. 4:35-41)!  We are not to be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present we are to present our requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:6-7; Matt. 21:22).

In the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mk. 4:26-29) the NIV note points out that, ‘whereas the parable of the sower stresses the importance of proper soil for the growth of seed and the success of the harvest, here the mysterious power of the seed itself is emphasized. The gospel message contains its own power’!  It’s God’s word that guarantees success, not my own ability.

Deep down I do know that what God has for us, is for us, whether it’s manifested today, or years from now (Ecc. 3:1-8; Isa. 55:6-11; 2 Pe. 3:8; Ps. 90:4).  I’m just glad to have this word hidden in my heart to pull up when I get a little uneasy.  But remember, as with any test, you can’t recall what you haven’t studied.  Thank you Lord for a mind-regulating word (2 Co. 10:5)!

The Power of (Intercessory) Prayer

Yesterday, my grandmother and I found ourselves vexed over two situations that we had no direct control over, situations that, if we approached them the wrong way (read hastily and without prayer) would affect them negatively.  With the one I’d brought to her, I admitted my first reaction was to act in ‘my own power’, but later realized that would not be the best way to approach it.  And with hers, she was almost rendered speechless, so she, in her wisdom said, “Let’s pray.”  We prayed that we would have the right words, life giving and life changing words, to affect the people involved, if that’s God’s will in these situations.  And we prayed that they yield to God’s word in those situations, and trust in them, as opposed to their own devices.

Although a word form an overseer, shepard, or pastor may be comforting, but the authority that the everyday believer has according to 1 Peter 2:4, that refers to us as a holy priesthood, and Revelation 1:5, where we’re called royalty are valid as well. 

Better yet, we have authority through the great intercessor, Christ, who ‘…is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:25).  And because of that, we can ‘…approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16).  The prayers of a righteous person, or persons, are indeed powerful and effective (James 5:16). 

It’s the faith in God’s word that does it!  I love the account of the man in Matthew chapter eight who humbly declined Jesus’ offer to come to the man’s house and heal his servant.  Instead he replied, in faith, ‘…just say the word and servant will be healed’ (v.8).  ‘When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (v. 10) In verse 13 he tells the man, “…Go! It will be done just as you believed it would”.  And his servant was healed at that very hour.