Believer, how well do you utilize the patience within you that is a gift from the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? Yeah, I have issues there, too.

We especially lack patience when tests and temptations come our way. We want our answers and our escape this instant, thank you very much. We want answers to “What do I do now, Lord” in seconds.

We have become a people who think God should reply to us like a Google search.

Tests are meant to be difficult, you know. They are meant to cause us to dig deep into what we know and pull out the answers and behaviors that will be pleasing to God.

Temptations are the other side of that same coin, though we must never get them mixed up. They cause us to reflect on what we know is right and make a choice to give an answer or behave in such a way that is pleasing to God.

Notice I didn’t say comfortable there. We weren’t put on this planet to be comfortable. We weren’t designed for our own wants, needs, and desires to be fulfilled. We were put here to glorify God. All our decisions and actions must be predicated upon that truth.

So, what does patiently enduring look like? It’s like standing at a crossroad until you know for a fact which way to turn. It’s like seeing that temptation before you and refusing to accept or deny until you have completely run it through the filter of God’s truth and probable consequences and understand fully what it will mean in the moments after you choose it.

My husband and I have never had an argument in our marriage. Not one. We have discussed things, but never the “you must believe like me” heated discussions that can lead to hurtful words and hateful actions. As I write this, that’s 30 years of peace in a relationship.

I won’t say it’s always easy. Nature will boil up responses that can zip right past my lips if I’m not careful. I employ two questions before I say something in the heat of frustration or anger:
1.) Am I willing to pay the price of the damage these words will cause?
2.) Will this thing matter so intensely tomorrow or five years from now?

The answer to those is usually no, and if the answer to Number 2 is yes, then we set about discussing without inflicting Number 1.

God honors those choices, Believer. He gives you happiness, spiritual prosperity, and His favor for your decisions to turn from self and to Him. When we are patient to do so in the heat of the moments that life brings, He is faithful to bless us again and again.

Let’s try it today. What testing are you in? What temptation is at your door? Seek God. Ask Him for guidance, then wait. No matter if someone or something is pressing you, just wait. If it goes away without you, recognize that God’s answer was to hold you back from that, and it’s okay. Be bold in your asking. Be confident in your waiting. Enjoy that crown of life that God has promised you.

We have grown into such a microwave society. That’s what I call it. We want everything instantly. We need to have our decisions instantly. We need to have our replies instantly. We need to have everything in seconds. But you know, when we think about in times past, our ancestors didn’t have things instantly. And they managed just fine. Relationships were built and enjoyed in the slower pace. And you know, that’s what we need to do is simply slow down.

We have to remember that we’re not supposed to run out ahead of God. We’re not supposed to race out and take care of this and then ask Him to bless it. We’re supposed to wait on Him and move forward when he says, “Okay, let’s go.” We also have to be ready when he says, “Okay, let’s go.” That means we have to be paying close attention to Him. That means we have to be seeking Him. That means we have to spend time in His Word and learn Him, get to know Him and trust Him. You can do that. I know you can. I believe in you. Better than that God Himself believes in you. And he is for you. He is for you, Believer.

Coffee, Bible, Journal.

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