Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer--Romans 12:12
(emphasis mine)
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This triplet in Romans is filled with wisdom and exhortation for daily living. The one that we need, however, to do the other two is to be continuing steadfastly in prayer. We need the connection with Him...without Him we can do nothing. This is what we must practice in our lives. Surrendering to Him when we feel overwhelmed, insecure, grieved, angry, offended, undecided...and a thousand other feelings that us frail human beings must deal with daily. God wants us to cry out to Him and when we do it is then we can rejoice and be patient because we know He has got our backs. He will doing nothing to harm us. His goal is only our good...
We can rejoice in a sure and certain hope because God has got our past, present and future covered. Our past is covered because our sins were forgiven at the moment of salvation. Our present is covered because Jesus by His death and resurrection tore down the wall of separation so we who believe, can now come to His throne of grace boldly to find mercy and help in our time of need. Our future is assured because He is our sure and certain hope and our refuge now and at death.
We can be patient in tribulation because as it says in James the testing of our faith produces endurance and we know that our trials produce blessings. Verse 12 in James 1 is a beatitude and says "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial. We can suffer long through a trial because our past, present and our future is secure and the battle is not ours but His. We can look forward in a trial to the blessings that it will produce now and in eternity.. We can step out of the misery and the pain of a moment and look forward....unfold it so to speak in our minds and see what the Lord might do in us and through us. An unbeliever, sadly, has no forward button in a trial...there is no hope..just increasing pain and misery and then endless suffering. Tragic, but the remedy is simple. Belief.
The thread that runs throughout both of these as I said earlier is prayer. We cannot know God without spending time with Him both in His word and in prayer. It is our confidence in God and who He is that anchors us in this world. That is why continuing steadfastly in prayer is the key...spending time with Him, learning all that we can about Him, depending on Him and allowing Him to guide our thoughts, words and actions. Draw near to Him girls, stay in fellowship with Him, wait on Him. When our eyes are on Him, His word, His promises and what He has done, they are off ourselves and our circumstances and focused on the One who can do exceedingly abundantly in our lives. We remember then that our purpose here on earth is just to do His will...then whatever comes our way is from Him and we can be patient through it because we have confidence that He is working it for His purposes in our life. I can bear the present because I am giving my burdens to Him.
Live your life as a prayer to Him...the key is drawing near in real intimacy...not just going through the motions, but by truly drawing near and making a practice of dependence on Him in your life. We need to learn trust Him with everything. He loved us enough to die for us when we were still His enemies, dead in our trespasses and sins. How much more will He take care of us and defend us when we have been reconciled to Him. He will surely see us through. We are concerned about our present comfort, Jesus is concerned about eternity. Choose not to be upset or discontent about whatever your situation might be at the moment. Choose Him. Choose to give the heartache, the loss, the grief, the trial, the circumstance to Him. Rest then in His provision and care. David does this so well...read the psalms. He had such an intimate relationship with His God.
Go to Him, girls. Cry out like David did...Wait on Him. Be quiet before Him. Wait for Him to speak to your heart. Take the cares and concerns of your day and turn them into prayers. We talk about doing this a lot but not many of us actually do it. Lay it all out before Him. Give them all to Him. Watch Him do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think...probably not as you expected but better and more beautifully than you ever could have imagined. As you do this you will have His peace that will surpass your understanding and will leave you rejoicing in His goodness, grace and mercy.
Love
Mom
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of god in Christ Jesus for you. (me)--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:4-7
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; --Colossians 4:2
