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Today is Friday July 02, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Psalms, chapters 40-45. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-july-2

Today's Message: Patience Through Difficulties

As Christians one of the things we learn from God is patience, most of us, including me, have thought that having patience means that we are waiting for God to give us an answer to a prayer or bring something to pass. However, patience means much more than that, in fact, the word wait is not even mentioned in its definition. The word patience us defined as, the willingness to endure annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, or irritation. In other words we are to go through the trials we face without complaining, yelling, or getting aggravated about them. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” - James 1:2-4. The word divers means all sorts, we are going to be faced with all sorts of temptations to try our faith in God, and as we overcome those temptations we learn patience and the perfect will of God for our lives. Now, I do not know about you, but I know I get aggravated once in a while. I have a customer that can get a bit critical, he gives me junk to work with and expects a masterpiece, but I have learned to accept the criticism and keep changing it over and over until he is satisfied, without complaining too much. I have learned, especially over the past few years that complaining about something never gets me anywhere, but more complaining. Incidentally, the word complain means to constantly fuss about or criticize someone. So, if we want God to bless us we need to learn to endure the difficulties with patience.

You can be sure that if you have chosen to live your life for Christ that your patience will be tried. If anyone's patience was tried more, it was David's. He not only had to run from Saul, but at one time even his own son, but he never stopped praising God and waited patiently and trusted that God would help him out of his troubles. “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” - Psalm 40:1-4. Having patience means letting go of our pride, humbling ourselves before God, and putting our trust in Him. He hears us and knows what we are going through. He is trying our faith to seek Him in bringing our trials to pass. Of course we are going to have to make an effort to see things come to pass, but as long as we are trusting Him to lead the way He will show us the right way to handle things.

Do you think David did not get a little down at times? He asked God numerous times, “Where are you, God?” For about 10 years he remained in exile, constantly on the move from Saul who was trying to kill him. One thing David learned while in exile was that he could not stop praying and glorifying God. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance...Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” - Psalm 42:2-5,8. Praying to God in our time of need gives us life and hope for an end to our troubles. If you are going to ask God for patience, He is going to place something before you that requires you to learn patience, but as you put your trust in Him and keep praising Him that patience will pay off. Learning patience has blessed me in many ways, for instance as I learn to handle difficult customers with patience I get blessed with more work. One of my biggest accounts was given because I have patience in dealing with a slow paying customer that wants changes made stat.

Do you ever wonder why you ask God for some things and end up getting the complete opposite? It's all about glorifying God. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ” - Romans 15:4-6. God is going to place trials before us so that we learn to have patience and seek comfort in Him through His Word and prayer. Ever notice when you are facing trials that you read, pray, and come to church a little more that normal? God is no fool, He knows how to get us to glorify Him, the more we glorify Him, the more hope we have in Him, the more hope we have, the more He blesses us. Praise God! God knows what He is doing, He knows out hearts and when He gets the stubbornness of our pride to open our hearts he will get us to see that we can not get through any trial without Him.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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