Many of us struggle with a lack of patience. I’ve shared on this topic before. But at the beginning of a New Year, I believe it is good to do it again. In Luke, 21:19 scripture tells us, “By your patience possess your souls.” We are also encouraged in our patience in Philippians 4:6 which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Still with this assurance, some of us continue to struggle with both patience and faith. Patience is simply our ability to wait till the right things happen before we try to make the right thing happen. Faith is the strength of our belief that God is involved in the things we hope for even if our hopes are not realized just yet.
Patience then and faith work together to strengthen us in our walk among others. In this way, it is through our patience we are able to control ourselves and keep ourselves from getting out ahead of the work of our faith.
In Luke 21, Jesus teaches us that we will not have answers to questions that have not been asked. We will not have responses to things that have not happened yet. We will not have control of what is not yet out of control. But we can have the Patience of Faith if we want.
Still there are times that our minds may tell us to watch out for the possibility that bad things will happen, but Patience of Faith tell us to be calm because there is also the possibility that those same things you fear may simply be fear that will never be realized.
Some of us are so fearful that we will run from our own shadows thinking it is out to harm us. Jesus is telling you that your shadow will always be just beside you, but it will never be able to harm you. Patience of Faith tells us to settle it now that our shadow is just a cloudy day away from disappearing.
Some of us fear what others have said or are saying or will say about us, so we worry, and we try to keep control of what is known of us by others. Patience of Faith tells us to settle it now in our hearts that there will always be talk about us. We must control ourselves now so that when the time comes, we have a word ready and right for the moment.
Some of us fear what our adversaries can do to us, so we worry about keeping watch over those who are our enemies and prepare to react to the things they will do to us. Patience of Faith tells us that no matter what our adversaries can do, they will not be able to do anything that will contradict or resist what we come to say and to do when the time is right.
So, settle it now in your life that you will live in the strong patience of your faith. Then you will be able to overcome all the things that you believe might have a chance to overcome you.
Even if you are betrayed by your closest friend, your Patience of Faith will enable you to snatch a victory from that.
Even if you are hated by someone you love, your Patience of Faith will enable you to find love from that.
And even if you are ridiculed and talked about by those you know and love, your Patience of Faith will enable you to become the talk of how you responded in God and of how God responded through you.
Settle it now to let your Patience of Faith walk ahead of you and clear your way of all the things that could happen to you.
Live a Delivered Life. Love you.
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