40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 34 | PATIENT IN TROUBLE
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 34 | PATIENT IN TROUBLE
PATIENT IN TROUBLE
Romans 12:12
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (NLT)
Patience is not something we see in abundance today from anyone. I joke about a time years ago when my wife and I went to the mountains for a get-a-way. We decided to have baked potatoes with our meal that evening… but – alas – NO microwave! I said, “Really, can you really make baked potatoes in the OVEN? How long will that take?”
Today we see the LACK of patience all around us… in dangerous red-light-running cars, in frustration when the internet isn’t as fast as we expect, and so much more. Over time it seems that our “instant-on culture” has changed us into a bunch of impatient, spoiled brats.
The Christians in the church in Rome had REAL issues to deal with, including pressure from the surrounding society just because they were Christians. The apostle was writing to tell them to FOCUS on our “confident hope” (that Jesus is coming back and that we’ll be with Him in heaven forever), which can help us be patient in trouble (or literally “tribulation.”).
In America – throughout all of our lives – Christianity has been the top faith. So, trouble or tribulation or people hating us has been minimal, especially compared to other countries (China or an Islamic country, for instance). I pray this doesn’t change and that those who THINK they are Christians will genuinely become a Follower of Jesus and live in a way pleasing to Him. And yet, challenging times may lie ahead and we all need to let this verse sink into our souls.
But also notice that besides REJOICING and being PATIENT in times of trouble, we need to KEEP PRAYING. Always an excellent formula to keep us under the guidance of our Great Shepherd.
Prayer: LORD, whatever comes, I know that You are God, that You will take care of me. Help me to REJOICE, be PATIENT and keep praying. Amen.
Romans 12:12
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (NLT)
Patience is not something we see in abundance today from anyone. I joke about a time years ago when my wife and I went to the mountains for a get-a-way. We decided to have baked potatoes with our meal that evening… but – alas – NO microwave! I said, “Really, can you really make baked potatoes in the OVEN? How long will that take?”
Today we see the LACK of patience all around us… in dangerous red-light-running cars, in frustration when the internet isn’t as fast as we expect, and so much more. Over time it seems that our “instant-on culture” has changed us into a bunch of impatient, spoiled brats.
The Christians in the church in Rome had REAL issues to deal with, including pressure from the surrounding society just because they were Christians. The apostle was writing to tell them to FOCUS on our “confident hope” (that Jesus is coming back and that we’ll be with Him in heaven forever), which can help us be patient in trouble (or literally “tribulation.”).
In America – throughout all of our lives – Christianity has been the top faith. So, trouble or tribulation or people hating us has been minimal, especially compared to other countries (China or an Islamic country, for instance). I pray this doesn’t change and that those who THINK they are Christians will genuinely become a Follower of Jesus and live in a way pleasing to Him. And yet, challenging times may lie ahead and we all need to let this verse sink into our souls.
But also notice that besides REJOICING and being PATIENT in times of trouble, we need to KEEP PRAYING. Always an excellent formula to keep us under the guidance of our Great Shepherd.
Prayer: LORD, whatever comes, I know that You are God, that You will take care of me. Help me to REJOICE, be PATIENT and keep praying. Amen.
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