Mary Southerland shares with us, "Patience is not one of my greatest strengths.
In fact, I tend to live each day with a schedule in mind, an agenda by which to live that day, and several goals I need to meet before the day’s end.
God does have a sense of humor.
I can’t tell you how many times my schedule falls apart, the agenda is completely forgotten, and I have to move today’s goals to tomorrow.
I am learning that when God wants to build a certain quality in my life, He puts me in the opposite circumstance.
For example, if God wants me to be more patient, He arranges the hours and minutes of my day in ways that demand patience.
What is patience? To be patient is to have the ability to endure, but it doesn’t stop there.
What is patience? To be patient is to have the ability to endure, but it doesn’t stop there.
Patience must also have the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate.
In other words, patience is love persevering and love waiting. We are not only to be patient in the way we face difficult situations, but in our relationships as well.
That just about covers life, doesn’t it?
One of the most powerful Bible passages on patience and perseverance is found in the book of James. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12, NIV
Do you want to be blessed? Stand firm in your trial.
Do you want to be rewarded? Stand firm in that tough circumstance.
Be patient – because patience really does pay off. God promises blessings and rewards to those who persevere and stand firm in hard times.
We can stand firm because God loves us unconditionally and promises to walk with us through every dark moment life will bring.
Nothing touches us that does not pass through God’s hand, with His permission.
Remember the Bible story of the man named Job? Job was a faithful servant of God, strong in his faith and unwavering in his obedience to God.
Satan didn’t like it. In fact, he went to God and asked permission to test Job. I love it!
The devil had to go to God like an errand boy in order to get permission to touch His child, Job. {Job chapter 1}
Satan was convinced that if Job lost everything God had given him, his health, his family, and his possessions, Job would curse God and follow Satan.
God told the serpent to give it his best shot, convinced that Job would persevere. Satan stripped Job of his health, his possessions, his wealth and his family – everything Job held dear.
Job stood firm.
Every trial must come through God’s love, but every trial has a purpose.
Every pain has a purpose, every ordeal contains a seed of victory, and there is a promise for every problem you and I will ever face.
The psalmist writes, “The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy” Psalm 28:7.
Patience pays off in many ways, but one of the greatest rewards of patience is joy, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “When God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat!”
God will never let us face more than we can handle with His help. Hebrews 12:12 says, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.” I have been there, done that and can relate to a weary heart and shaky legs.
No matter where you are today, where you have been, or what you are facing tomorrow, be patient, knowing your God will strengthen you to stand firm.
Let’s Pray
Father, please forgive me when I am impatient. Help me to see You at work in the trial and choose to depend on Your strength instead of my own. Help me to see Your purpose and plan, but even if I can’t understand it all, help me to stand firm in faith. Lord, make me more patient so that others will see You in me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Now It Is Your Turn
Read Romans 12:12 “Be patient when trouble comes.” What trouble in your life today requires patience? Are you willing to choose faith and obedience by trusting God with that trouble?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Be patient with everyone.” What relationship in your life demands patience from you? What one thing do you need to change in order to choose obedience to God as you relate to this person?
Read Ephesians 4:2 ”Always be humble, gentle and patient.” Notice that patience is listed along with two other important qualities God wants to see in us. How do you think patience relates to humility and gentleness?
The only thing worse than learning from experience is not learning from experience. I am with you, friend. I encourage you to check out my book, Sandpaper People, as a resource for those difficult relationships in your life. You can also download an MP3 file of “Patience Pays Off” by visiting the online store of my website.
September 26, 2013
Patience Pays Off {excerpts from} Google images added
Mary Southerland
Today’s quote: Sharon Jaynes – “Do you long to experience God on a daily basis? Do you hunger to feel closer to Him? Do you want something more in your relationship with Him? The good news is, “something more” does not mean “doing more.” God is not waiting for you to get your spiritual life “right.” He wants to be with you right where you are. To learn more about how to experience God’s presence in all of life, see my book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. It also includes a study guide in the back.”
One of the most powerful Bible passages on patience and perseverance is found in the book of James. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12, NIV
Do you want to be blessed? Stand firm in your trial.
Do you want to be rewarded? Stand firm in that tough circumstance.
Be patient – because patience really does pay off. God promises blessings and rewards to those who persevere and stand firm in hard times.
We can stand firm because God loves us unconditionally and promises to walk with us through every dark moment life will bring.
Nothing touches us that does not pass through God’s hand, with His permission.
Remember the Bible story of the man named Job? Job was a faithful servant of God, strong in his faith and unwavering in his obedience to God.
The devil had to go to God like an errand boy in order to get permission to touch His child, Job. {Job chapter 1}
Satan was convinced that if Job lost everything God had given him, his health, his family, and his possessions, Job would curse God and follow Satan.
God told the serpent to give it his best shot, convinced that Job would persevere. Satan stripped Job of his health, his possessions, his wealth and his family – everything Job held dear.
Job stood firm. Every trial must come through God’s love, but every trial has a purpose.
Every pain has a purpose, every ordeal contains a seed of victory, and there is a promise for every problem you and I will ever face.
The psalmist writes, “The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy” Psalm 28:7.
Patience pays off in many ways, but one of the greatest rewards of patience is joy, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “When God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat!”
God will never let us face more than we can handle with His help. Hebrews 12:12 says, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.” I have been there, done that and can relate to a weary heart and shaky legs.
No matter where you are today, where you have been, or what you are facing tomorrow, be patient, knowing your God will strengthen you to stand firm.
Let’s Pray
Father, please forgive me when I am impatient. Help me to see You at work in the trial and choose to depend on Your strength instead of my own. Help me to see Your purpose and plan, but even if I can’t understand it all, help me to stand firm in faith. Lord, make me more patient so that others will see You in me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Now It Is Your Turn
Read Romans 12:12 “Be patient when trouble comes.” What trouble in your life today requires patience? Are you willing to choose faith and obedience by trusting God with that trouble?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Be patient with everyone.” What relationship in your life demands patience from you? What one thing do you need to change in order to choose obedience to God as you relate to this person?
Read Ephesians 4:2 ”Always be humble, gentle and patient.” Notice that patience is listed along with two other important qualities God wants to see in us. How do you think patience relates to humility and gentleness?
The only thing worse than learning from experience is not learning from experience. I am with you, friend. I encourage you to check out my book, Sandpaper People, as a resource for those difficult relationships in your life. You can also download an MP3 file of “Patience Pays Off” by visiting the online store of my website.
September 26, 2013
Patience Pays Off {excerpts from} Google images added
Mary Southerland
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| Breathtaking! |
Today’s quote: Sharon Jaynes – “Do you long to experience God on a daily basis? Do you hunger to feel closer to Him? Do you want something more in your relationship with Him? The good news is, “something more” does not mean “doing more.” God is not waiting for you to get your spiritual life “right.” He wants to be with you right where you are. To learn more about how to experience God’s presence in all of life, see my book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. It also includes a study guide in the back.”
Some thoughts today: Is the product of your harvest what you wanted? Change the seeds you sow, and wait for the Lord of the harvest to prosper your efforts. He empowers us to sow Kingdom seed.
- Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness to pray. If prayer was important to Him, then it must be for us too!
- Let’s celebrate Who Christ is: He is the express image of the Father, He
purged our sins and sat down at the Father’s right hand, He is the Son of God,
He will reign on earth, the anointing of gladness was upon Him, He will never
fail, His mission was confirmed by signs and wonders, He tasted death for
everyone, He is faithful, He is able to save us, He comes to our need, and
because of Christ, we’re bought as sons of God. Through Him we know the Father,
as He offered Himself once for us on the Cross. We’re saved by His
precious Blood, so we now can have eternal life!
Tomorrow’s post: Filled Up and Poured Out Cindy O'Brien
Tuesday's post: #27 3 More Ways to Check for the Gift of Intercession C. Peter Wagner
precious Blood, so we now can have eternal life!
Tomorrow’s post: Filled Up and Poured Out Cindy O'Brien
Tuesday's post: #27 3 More Ways to Check for the Gift of Intercession C. Peter Wagner
Thursday's post: #28 Why Pastors Need Intercession C. Peter Wagner
A popular post: A Thankful Heart[Heather Spiva] "Believe what He sends our way is exactly what we can handle, then trust the worst of situations will turn into something beautiful if we wait and see with a thankful heart."
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| Taken by Kathy Eastmond |
newheartministries@juno.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/ Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in
Verse my book for women contemplating
marriage.
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