Daily Devotional for Thursday December 13, 2001

Patience

(HEBREWS 10:36)

One of the things that I lack more than anything in my life is patience. I have done better as I get older, but it is still something that I have to pray about and work on almost every day. Many of the problems that I read about in people's lives each and every day can be traced back to a lack of patience. How often do we jump out, do something without really thinking it through or praying about it...and then not waiting on God to see if it is something that He wants us to be doing...and end up in a major mess? It doesn't matter what the issue is. Finances, relationships, where we should be working, living, recreating, or going to school. Everything we do in our life should be done with careful thought, prayer, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Often I speak about hearing from God. Obviously, this is where patience comes in to play. Now this doesn't mean we are to just sit in our room praying, fasting, and waiting for God to speak to us from the heavens. To be very honest with you, I really hope that never happens to me. I'm comfortable hearing from God in the common ways He speaks to us...through His Word, through that "still small voice" as we pray, through other people, and through our circumstances. We just can't be paralyzed; we need to live our lives. But as we are making those important decisions of life, we need to think them through and ask ourselves: What does the Word say? What would God want us to do? I can tell you that every decision we make during the day can be made using those two questions as your guide. In the bigger decisions, those that will affect our life in a major way, we need to exercise patience and see what God wants us to do. Don't forget, He has a plan and purpose for your life already drawn up. He will show you the way, give you direction on those key important decisions.

He won't be silent. The big problem is when our desires aren't His desires. We often try to see what we want to see, and ignore God when He is obviously closing a door in our life, or perhaps opening one. One reason we often don't have much patience is because we may already know what it is God wants, and it isn't really what we want. It is called rebellion and it will cause you pain and heartache every single time. Maybe not right away, but trust me, when you are doing it your way and not His, there is ALWAYS a price to pay.

I love you and care about you a great deal. It is no accident you receive these devotional every day, and I never take lightly the opportunity God has given me to encourage you, challenge you, and stand with you as He continues to make you the man or woman of God He intended, as He speaks to you and leads you into the service he has planned for your life each and every day. I will be praying today for you to have patience, to wait on God during those critical decisions you must make at times in your life. I will be praying that you hear im clearly and than follow His direction. Not rebel, but obediently follow Him n the direction He wants you to go.

In this busy holiday season, when we always seem to be behind schedule, learn to be patient and wait on God. Remember, His timing is ALWAYS perfect!