Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 18-21
Message Title: Blessed Through Patience

Patience, it's not easy, but it is necessary if we want to see the best that God has to give us. What happens when we are impatient and make a bad decision? Do not worry, God is still with you, you may have forfeited a blessing, but you did not forfeit your salvation. Admit it, the flesh is weak, and as much as we try to be patient and wait for God's timing, we physically and mentally are incapable of do such. It is only by God's strength that we can wait patiently for God to bless us. No matter how many times we fall, God will pick us back up because He has much patience in waiting for us. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” - Proverbs 24:16.

David, was known as the apple of God's eye because he loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul. Was he perfect? Absolutely not! He had God's favor because he was never too proud to admit that he did sin. Now, after years of battling with Saul, he finally won, the key to his victory, he loved God and knew that his strength came from Him. “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” - Psalm 18:1-6.

God knows our flesh, some days I beat myself up over something I have done, hating my flesh because it is so weak. Then I think about others who do not have God in their lives and just how weak they are in their flesh, at least I have God to help me through. I realize quickly that I could be just like them, or worse, and that I am much stronger than I thought. It's not my flesh that is stronger, it's the power of God that is in me that is my strength. As weak as I am I would hate to think of where I would be if I did not have God in my life on a daily basis. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - Hebrews 12:7,9,11,28.

David faced much criticism, affliction, persecution, and even chastening from God, but he knew that everything he went through was all to teach him to fear Him. David recalls how God delivered him from his enemies. “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” - Psalms 18:17-21,28.

The word patience means to endure suffering or affliction without complaining. Perhaps one of the toughest things to do as a Christian is to wait for God, especially when we cannot see an end to our suffering. We all have to admit that the majority of the time when we are faced with danger or get caught up in something that we cannot get out of it is because we were impatient, and this happens to everyone, not just Christians. However, an amazing thing happens as we learn to wait for God, He strengthens us, prepares us for what we are asking Him for, and keeps us from evil. “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.” - Psalms 18:32,35,46-49.

The Bible was given to us to show us how we can have a relationship with God. While He could have chosen any nation He chose Israel to be His people first, they were people like you and I, all were sinners, all of them had times of discouragement, distress, and sorrow. Some of them were even murderers, adulterers, and idol worshipers before and after they chose to live their lives for God. God did not chose perfection, He choose those who were imperfect to represent Him. Why? To show all, Jew and Gentile, that God is merciful and full of grace toward even the worst offender who comes to Him. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9,10.

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I understand that Your timing is everything and as long as I wait patiently You will give me what I need, it's not always easy to live that way. I do thank You for bringing me this far, to imagine what mess I would be in if You weren't in my life would be frightening. I know You have more blessings waiting for me through my patience in letting You prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me from evil. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to not become discouraged, and to be strong even though there seems to be no end to my struggling. I trust that You will bring me to victory, my Lord, my strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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