Yesterday I mentioned that we were going to talk about patience this morning. I ran across this while studying and it says exactly what I have been praying about. I hope it brings you to God's throne this morning...and helps you (and I) to see the lessons that we are supposed to learn each day.
Praying for Patience
By: Pastor David F. Reagan
The joke goes like this: a man goes to his pastor and asks tells him how much he needs more patience and asks that the pastor pray for him in this matter. The pastor agrees and suggests they have prayer right there. As he prays, he prays that this man would have trials come into his life and have many struggles. Right in the middle of the prayer, the man stops his pastor. “That’s not what I asked for.”
“Sure it is,” his pastor replied, “the way to patience is through just such trials. Paul himself told us that tribulations work patience.”
If that’s the case,” the man answered, “I’ll be glad to wait a little longer to get it.”
Unfortunately, we have overworked this joke to the point of discouraging people from praying for change in their lives. Since change requires trial, I will just do without it. We understand that prayer for growth in our character is often answered by bringing challenges into our lives. We often decide that we are pretty happy where we are.
In prayer for character or spiritual growth, we contact the Almighty God and ask for His help. We usually want Him to wave His hand over us and say a few words and, wa-la!, we are changed. However, just as with Naaman (2 Kings 5), the Lord usually has us do something demeaning like dip seven times in the muddy Jordan. That is, He brings us into circumstances that bring about this growth in our lives. Although not necessarily, prayer for patience may indeed bring new trials; especially since patience is a quiet and steady faithfulness to God and other duties in the midst of trials.
However, the fact that trials may be used is not an argument against praying. This fear is further evidence of the spiritual shallowness of our times. We want the best of everything without having to pay more than a nickel for it. Character costs. Spirituality costs. Holiness costs. Salvation is free—to us. But dedication to God costs. And God says that we are unworthy of being a disciple of His if we are not willing to pay.
Well that's it for this morning. Here's my challenge to you today...are you willing to pay for patience? When we ask God to give it to us...we want it NOW! That isn't necessarily what God has in mind in order for us to develop patience that lasts...
Ready to pay the price for character growth? Let's do it together!
Pastor Brian
1 comment:
Wow thats great.. Salvation is Free.. Here's my answer to someone who asks me what I get out of playing for church.
Thanks
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