| Today's Word May 14, 2009 |
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Today's Word for Thursday May 14, 2009
Patience
Defined by Webster:
The bearing of provocation; pain without complaint; ability or willingness to suppress restlessness; quiet; steady; even tempered.
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"Make haste to help me O Lord."
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
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In the first verse above, David showed his lack of patience but in the second verse Isaiah relates to us that we need to learn to wait upon the Lord. But like David we do not like to wait. We dislike long lines at the super market, traffic jams, waiting to eat at a restaurant and even waiting for a friend or family member.
We live in a day when everyone wants instant gratification. We want everything now. When we pray and ask God for something and if it does not happen right away, we are like David. We say, Hurry up Lord and answer my prayer. Patience requires perseverance. In James 1:2 to 4, James tells us to consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops patience. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Waiting for God to answer a prayer can cause us to doubt. Is God really listening? Does He hear our prayers? We can be assured that God does answer our prayers. His timetable is not the same as ours but His timing is always perfect. Waiting may test our faith, but learning to have patience is part of becoming a mature Christian and being what God wants us to be.
In our family it is a known fact that I [Ken] do not like to wait and basically I am very impatient. It is my nature to want to have things done yesterday. Fortunately my wife, Dottie, is a perfect balance to me because she is always very patient. As I have grown older I have worked hard in trying to be more patient. Through this exercise I have realized the importance of balancing my physical impatience with what God wants me to do spiritually -- wait upon Him.
Several times I have been amused when I think of a statement that the great preacher of years ago, Charles Spurgeon, said in a sermon on patience. His illustration was completed when he said: By perseverance the snail reached the ark. Now that is patience.
Patience brings on success. Success is largely a matter of holding on after all others have let go. You need patience to make that happen.
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Dear Lord, give me patience today and help me to wait upon you to
renew my strength. Help me to be patient to those I touch shoulders with
today. Help our family to be patient with one another. Give our family
today the kind of patience that you will honor by allowing us to run and
not be weary and to walk and not be faint.
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Your Friends,
Ken and Dottie Phillips
"Today's Word" is sent to you free
to encourage you to commit today to
serve and honor God as a family.
These Family Devotional Thoughts are written by Dr.Ken Phillips, ministry director for World Bible Society, and his wife Dottie. Ken has had ministry positions with The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Vision, Youth For Christ, World Opportunities International, and World Bible Society. He also has consulted for more than 20 Christian ministries in management and stewardship development. Ken and Dottie have been married for 52 years, and have 6 children and 21 grandchildren. Come back regularly to enjoy their Family Devotional as they share their thoughts about living in God's Word!
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3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. |
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