Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Need of Patience

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. - Hebrews 10:36
Praise Jesus Christ!

Along the journey to our destination of accomplishing our goals, various roadblocks and detours may manifest themselves.  Our desires may seem to take longer than we previously envisioned.  These times of despair or setbacks have a tendency to lead us to discouragement.  However, during these times, what we must remember is that these obstructions are temporary.  They are sent to 'test our metal' or placed in Biblical terms 'try our faith'.

Yes, our faith must be tried.  God wants us to come forth and shine as pure gold.  He wants us to not only reach our destination safely, but also to remember the manner in which He bought us through every obstacle or adversarial force.  He wants us to remember His faithfulness, allowing us to encourage others in their quest to pursue and accomplish all their God-given goals, desires, and dreams.

The above Bible Scripture exclaims that we have 'need of patience'.  Think about what God is saying here.  We normally perceive a 'need' as shelter, food, or clothing.  All these things in fact are needs that we may have, but God also declares that having 'patience' is also a need.  He says that after we have done the will of God, we will inherit the promise if we have patience.  Essentially we need patience, because without it, we will not become all that God has envisioned us to be.

Accumulating patience is not always an easy task.  If it was something that could be garnered without much effort, all of us would exude patience.  We simply have to learn patience.  Once this virtue is attained, nothing will be able to keep us from our destinies in Christ Jesus.  With patience, we become the loving vessels that God can utilize to accomplish His Will in His earth realm.  Without patience, many sins are accomplished, and we become unfruitful and unproductive in our daily walks as Christians.  Simply put, patience is the key ingredient in the recipe of becoming the charitable Christian that seasons the earth with the Word of God, and lights the world with the Testimony of Jesus Christ!

Now with this being said, the pertinent question becomes 'How do we receive the patience necessary to glorify our Savior?'  Well, the first thing we must do is read, study, meditate, and rely on the Bible - The Word of God.  We must learn the ways of our LORD and seek out His methods of doing things.  It is not enough to just say, "I need patience".  We must study God's Word diligently to understand all that having the patience that pleases God entails.

For example, Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).  Loving our enemies definitely takes patience.  The only way to realize this 'patience' is to rely on the Holy Ghost to Help us.  Jesus says the Holy Ghost will remind us of all that He has taught us (John 14:26).  When we read the Holy Bible, we are literally instructed by Jesus Christ Himself.  For Jesus is the WORD OF GOD!  When we see that to obey the Lord's Commandments takes faith and patience, we will continually seek Him by reading and studying His Word on a daily basis.

Another way of obtaining patience is briefly mentioned in an above paragraph.  We simply must have our faith in Christ 'tried' or tested.  God is in the business of perfecting us.  This perfection involves cleansing away all the impurities of our sinful past, ultimately conforming us into the image of Christ.  Although the Bible states that we are made in the image of God, because of our sin in the Garden of Eden, we lost our identity.  Only Jesus Christ, by His shed blood and resurrection power, can revive us, creating in us a new heart and renewing our minds to right fellowship with the Father through faith in Him.  In a sense, our faith is proven (made sufficient and pleasing to Christ) when we go through difficulties and do not lose our 'patience' with God and with the trials He allows to come our way. 

Let's face it, we have a demonic enemy to all that we hold dear.  This enemy is the fallen Angel Satan.  He does all he can to steal our faith from us.  He knows that with the faith and patience of Christ, we can overcome and do miraculous exploits in God's earth, proclaiming the Glory of God our Savior.  He knows that He is fallen, and he delights in having us fall to tarnish, not necessarily our image, but God's image as well.  He delights in seeing Christians lose their cool in a tumultuous situation.  He wants to steal, kill, and destroy not only us, but also our testimonies.  But remember my friend, the devil is already defeated.  Whatever was given to him in Adam's fall, was snatched from his grasp with the glorious Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and granted over unto God's children triumphantly at Christ's Resurrection.  As Christ stated before He gave up the Ghost on His cross, 'It Is Finished'.  In simpler terms, Christ paid for our redemption by His Own Blood, and we are no longer in bondage to the devil and his wiles.  By the faith and patience of Christ, we are more than conquerors, well able to walk a gait pleasing to God, exuding the necessary 'patience' that our loving God supplies.

One final thing to remember is that with the patience of Christ, we can accomplish and overcome any adversity.  Years ago when I managed a secular Hip Hop group, I needed to retrieve a copy of the group's music CD in order that they have it for an upcoming show.  I traveled to the recording studio early one morning in hopes that I would meet the engineer, and receive a copy of the CD from him.  Unfortunately, on this particular occasion, he didn't come in to work until late that evening.  I may have sat there for 10 or more hours.  When the engineer arrived, one of the other employees said to me 'You're one of the most patient people I have ever met'.  I simply said, 'I had to get the music or there would be no show'.  In other words, I 'had' to be patient.  I had no other choice.  It was either wait and receive the promise of the CD and a successful show, or leave early and destroy the hopes of having a successful endeavor. 

Remember, God is going to perfect our faith.  He says we have need of patience.  He is going to do everything in His Power to ensure our realization of this patience.  Knowing this, as I learned, makes it easier to go through a particular trial.  If we have to wait for God's timing, let us wait joyfully.  For it would be unprofitable for us to stomp our feet as spoiled children.  When we wait patiently, it displays our maturity and level of spiritual growth.  God WILL see us triumphantly to our destination.  All we have to do is seek Him and delight ourselves in Him!  He is sure to grant us the desires of our hearts.  Every desire of our hearts begins with faith and is realized through patience.  God is patient with us!  Let's reciprocate that patience by joyfully enduring every hardship and trial that is presented unto us.  Amen?  Amen!

(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger of God

Next Week: Finding Strength in The Word of God

Sunday, November 6, 2011

You're Almost There

Praise Jesus Christ!
So often during our journey to finishing what we start, we begin to lose sight and focus of the attainment of our dreams.  The road to fulfillment can seem tedious and wearisome, especially in the realization of accomplishing a huge goal.  However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel with Christ Jesus! 

You have come a long way since you began putting your faith in Christ to accomplish your desires!  You may not have attained to the perfection of the completion of your goals, but you are not where you were when you started.

Yes, the road to success can be a difficult one to tread.  But the rewards and benefits available at the end of the tunnel far outweigh any adversity encountered along the way.  It is imperative that we come to the realization that when things seem to be the most difficult, our destination is closer than when we first believed.

The key is to not give up no matter how long it takes in the attainment of a dream.  Your faith in God will see you through.  Batten down the hatches, and dig your heels in deep and as our Savior Jesus says, 'strive for perfection'.  God is right with you, giving you the power and ability necessary to fulfill your desire, goal, or dream.

When you began the journey of 'Finishing what you started' by planning your life and setting goals, your zeal flourished!  Your excitement and anticipation of becoming a vessel fit for the Master's use soared to a high plateau.  During your travels toward achieving your goals, some days were easier than others.  Some days you accomplished what you set out to achieve, other days you did the proverbial dragging of your feet through the mud.  But let's face it, you've accomplished more in a few months than you have in a few years.  You know that God is with you in all your endeavors!  You know that God is pleased with you and you are accepting of your position in His Kingdom at this time, while all the while striving to become all that Jesus has envisioned for you and your family.

So take heart if you're not achieving all your dreams at the pace in which you expected.  Remember, God is still - and always will be - in control.  He has not forgotten about you, your dreams, or desires.  He is the one Who placed them inside of you!  You will reach your destination!  Remember, the Word of God states that you will reap the fruit of what you have sown if you faint not.

In closing, I want to remind you of a story I read about a lady that attempted to swim 26 miles to a desired haven.  Although in impeccable shape, naturally she became weary towards the end of her race.  During this particular endeavor the fog enveloped the canvas of her vision making it increasingly difficult to see her position in regards to the distance from her destination.  Because of weariness, the daunting task of navigating the ominous fog that hindered her vision, and simply a feeling of it being too difficult to continue (notice I said 'a feeling'), she decided to summon the boats alongside her to scoop her from the waters, believing that this goal was not to be attained on that particular day.

However, once she gathered herself while resting on the boat, the fog began to dissipate.  What she saw next was hard for her to believe.  She realized that if she had kept going, her destination was only a mile away.  Because she lost her vision, feeling she could no longer endure, she didn't achieve a task, though monumental, was well in her peripheral of attaining.

So what am I saying here?  Essentially I'm saying that although doubt, fear, anxiety, or another form of adversity may attempt to hinder your attainment of your desires, keep pressing ahead!  Don't let what you see or are unable to perceive keep you from what God has placed within your heart!  You may feel as if you're not making satisfactory progress toward your desire.  But don't lose heart!  You're closer than you think!  Trust that God will add to your attempts for success more than 100-fold!  I like to ask God to add to my efforts a JESUS-FOLD Blessing!  YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!  If you give up now, what have you accomplished?  Giving up after all you've put in means that not only have you wasted your time, but the giving-up in itself would be a waste of time!  God is able to do any and everything but Fail!  Trust Him!  He Will see you through!

(c) 2011 Writings With The Finger Of God

Next Week: Patience Is The Key