I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a patient person…I’m a mover, so if I have to stop to wait for something, I get anxious. My mind goes into warp-drive, thinking of all the things I could be doing, besides just waiting. But it’s usually then that the Lord will cause me to take the focus off myself and onto something or someone around me. What would be the good pleasure of God at this moment? Thanking Him for the beauty surrounding me…speaking encouragement into the person nearby…praying for my family…all are things that change my attitude from that of impatience to calm endurance. As James said, “Blessed are they that persevere.”
Tag: religion
Romans 8: 6 “…But the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Many years ago during the very darkest point in my life, I was in counseling with a very kind and wise Christian pastor. After months of struggling with the trauma caused by someone else, and their resistance to take responsibility for the pain inflicted…I felt overwhelmed and lost. This wise pastor said one simple thing that has stayed with me for decades. He said, ” You can be responsible to someone, but not for them.” We can’t be accountable for the actions of others…and if they are on a self-destructive path, there’s a limit to what we can do. The Lord wants us to live in peace, and sometimes that means giving that person to the Lord, and letting them remain there at the Cross as we back away.
II Corinthians 6:1-2 ” As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Paul was quoting Isaiah 49:8 to the Church in Corinth, but putting a new spin on it. He was telling them, “Stop thinking that “someday” you’ll receive all the blessings of God. Rather the time is now, and the place is here…so receive.” And so, I speak this into your life today…NOW is the time of God’s kindness towards you…Now is the time of Him bestowing all His Blessings on you…so receive.
I Kings 19:21 ” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and become his attendant.”
God had directed Elijah to call Elisha to succeed him as Prophet. Rather than vacillate on whether he had truly been called, Elisha boldly made sure he couldn’t fall back to his comfortable old life. So many times when God calls us, we want to hedge our bets, giving ourselves a way back to what is easy and familiar if what God calls us to do becomes too difficult. When we hang onto the past and what’s safe and predictable, God can’t use us to our fullest capabilities.
II Samuel 6: 21-22 ” I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”
As the Ark of the Covenant was being brought into Jerusalem, King David was at the front of the processional. With shouts and trumpets, the entire house of Israel was welcoming the Ark back home. It says that David danced with all his might before the Lord as the celebration wound through the streets. But his wife Michal felt he had made a fool of himself before the people…to which David replied, ” I will honor and exalt my God with wild abandonment because of the joy and love I have for Him. Even though King, I know that I am totally insignificant and worthless before my Lord… and I and not afraid to show everyone just how small I am.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
When I start to worry and fret over something, the Lord will interrupt my little party with…”Have you prayed about this?” Then He’ll ask, ” What is the best thing you can do about it?” This will abruptly take my focus off me and put it where it needs to be. By giving the burden to the Lord in prayer, I can then gain calming understanding and discernment over the matter…and with peace and a clear head, I can look at this thing that’s been causing so much anxiety within me and view it much more objectively. Sometimes, the best thing I can do is just pray…but there are times when the Lord will open my eyes to an opportunity where I can make a difference.
Psalm 27:1 ” The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
The Lord is my enlightenment and deliverance…a citadel of strength that I can run to in times of trouble. When danger comes near, I don’t have to be paralyzed with fear and trembling because He is ever near to me. He sustains me, and becomes my strength when mine fails within me. My hope is in the Lord…in Him I trust.
Joshua 22:5 ” But be careful to keep the commandment and the Law Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.”
Our journeys are different…each path unique and special. But the Lord asks the same of each of us. His commandments are straight forward and simple… they aren’t confusing or open for interpretation. The Lord asks for our everything…our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In exchange…we have Him forever.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…”
There are times in our lives when we feel totally powerless…defenseless, helpless, and weak. Many times the situation hinges on someone else, and has nothing to do with us…but that doesn’t make the feelings any less overwhelming. The scripture wants to show that the power of God Almighty Himself is alive and well inside of us, and all we need to do is grasp this vision….and suddenly that feeling of powerlessness will be changed into strength and authority. The situation may not change…but your view of it will.
II Peter 1:16 ” We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
For years the Apostle Peter traveled, lived, and ate with Jesus. He watched as countless sick were brought to the Lord and healed in an instant. Peter marveled as Jesus held up a few fish in thanksgiving…and then fed thousands from what He had in His hand. With all he had personally seen, you can imagine his disbelief when accused of making up false myths and fables about his Lord. Rather, the Apostle Peter had come as a Teacher, who unfolding Divine things, showed them the sovereign power and magnificence of Jesus Christ.
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