King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Chapters: Lamentations 3-5
Message Title: The Need For Patience
Hello My Friend,
Patience, waiting without complaining. Our human nature has about a five second span when it comes to waiting for things, yet every where we go we seem to be waiting for something, and complaining quite a bit I might add. I truly believe that much of the suffering we go through is the result of our being impatient. Think about it, how many times do we make rash decisions because we are tired of waiting for something or someone? I know I have done that many times. Let me tell you, God knows what His children need, and His timing is always perfect, we may not think so at the time, but when God's hands are in the waiting the results are amazing. “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” - Lamentations 3:25,26.
As Christians, we are prone to learning to wait for God, but when we are faced with affliction, especially when all we were doing is serving God and trying to do the right things, our hope can be diminished when all we seem to be doing is waiting. Jeremiah recalls the horrible time in which he was in the dungeon, and while he could not see or hear God, he never gave up hope in Him. “He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” - Lamentations 3:7-9,21-24,32.
His mercies never end no matter how impatient we get, His mercies are new every morning, it is only by His mercies that we are not destroyed, and it is only by His mercies that He never stops loving us. God is faithful to His children, He never leaves nor forsakes us. He will make us wait, especially if we are trying to help Him along or rush Him, but as bad as things are, it is only by the mercies of God that they are not worse. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. “Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.” - Lamentations 3:39-42,55-57.
As long as we have life in us we have hope, and instead of complaining when we are waiting for what we think we need, we should encourage ourselves with the hope of better things. We should complain to God, but not of Him. We are apt, in times of waiting to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them for our problems, but our while waiting it is wise to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from any sin to God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalms 139:23,24.
Complaining while waiting on God can cause us to make some rash and unwise decisions, which is why the majority of the time we go through the afflictions we go through. Think about it, we are representatives of God, what type of life are we living that reflects that? If what we are doing is worse than the world, you can be sure that judgment will come. Jeremiah reminds the Jews that they are where they are because their sins were worse than those living in the world. “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.” - Lamentations 4:1,6-8,17.
God's people are like gold to Him, they are valuable and precious, yes, they get tarnished, and they get tried in the fire, but they will shine once they overcome their sin. Those who truly want to change the situations in their lives will not only seek God and His mercies, but also take the steps needed to change them by walking with Christ and conforming to Him. I was in a big mess, even going to church, I cried for God to get me out of the situation, but was still conforming myself to me and not Christ. It wasn't until I truly wanted to get out of the situation that God had compassion on me and helped me out of it. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” - 1 Peter 3:10-12.
It is not always easy conforming to image of Christ, especially while waiting on Him. Those who faithfully serve Him are committed to Him, yet the more Christlike they become the more they seem to wait. As Jeremiah is pondering the destruction of Jerusalem, he laments over the state of Judah in captivity, but pleas with God for the return of His mercy. “The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.” - Lamentations 5:15-22.
Think about all the suffering that an unsaved person or even one that has backslidden faces and how hopeless they feel, they cannot see God nor trust Him to help them out of their situation. Waiting is not easy, especially when being afflicted, but if we keep looking to Jesus as we walk toward the prize together, it will be worth the wait. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:9,10.
Today's Prayer: God, As we live by faith and not sight, we are called to serve You faithfully as we wait for You to give us the things we need and desire. You know exactly what we need, and if it is in Your will You will give them to us on Your timetable, not ours. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, strengthen us, and help us to look to You for hope and do what is necessary on our part to not only conform to the likeness of Your Son, as we await Your answers. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Chapters: Lamentations 3-5
Message Title: The Need For Patience
Hello My Friend,
Patience, waiting without complaining. Our human nature has about a five second span when it comes to waiting for things, yet every where we go we seem to be waiting for something, and complaining quite a bit I might add. I truly believe that much of the suffering we go through is the result of our being impatient. Think about it, how many times do we make rash decisions because we are tired of waiting for something or someone? I know I have done that many times. Let me tell you, God knows what His children need, and His timing is always perfect, we may not think so at the time, but when God's hands are in the waiting the results are amazing. “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” - Lamentations 3:25,26.
As Christians, we are prone to learning to wait for God, but when we are faced with affliction, especially when all we were doing is serving God and trying to do the right things, our hope can be diminished when all we seem to be doing is waiting. Jeremiah recalls the horrible time in which he was in the dungeon, and while he could not see or hear God, he never gave up hope in Him. “He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” - Lamentations 3:7-9,21-24,32.
His mercies never end no matter how impatient we get, His mercies are new every morning, it is only by His mercies that we are not destroyed, and it is only by His mercies that He never stops loving us. God is faithful to His children, He never leaves nor forsakes us. He will make us wait, especially if we are trying to help Him along or rush Him, but as bad as things are, it is only by the mercies of God that they are not worse. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. “Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.” - Lamentations 3:39-42,55-57.
As long as we have life in us we have hope, and instead of complaining when we are waiting for what we think we need, we should encourage ourselves with the hope of better things. We should complain to God, but not of Him. We are apt, in times of waiting to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them for our problems, but our while waiting it is wise to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from any sin to God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalms 139:23,24.
Complaining while waiting on God can cause us to make some rash and unwise decisions, which is why the majority of the time we go through the afflictions we go through. Think about it, we are representatives of God, what type of life are we living that reflects that? If what we are doing is worse than the world, you can be sure that judgment will come. Jeremiah reminds the Jews that they are where they are because their sins were worse than those living in the world. “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.” - Lamentations 4:1,6-8,17.
God's people are like gold to Him, they are valuable and precious, yes, they get tarnished, and they get tried in the fire, but they will shine once they overcome their sin. Those who truly want to change the situations in their lives will not only seek God and His mercies, but also take the steps needed to change them by walking with Christ and conforming to Him. I was in a big mess, even going to church, I cried for God to get me out of the situation, but was still conforming myself to me and not Christ. It wasn't until I truly wanted to get out of the situation that God had compassion on me and helped me out of it. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” - 1 Peter 3:10-12.
It is not always easy conforming to image of Christ, especially while waiting on Him. Those who faithfully serve Him are committed to Him, yet the more Christlike they become the more they seem to wait. As Jeremiah is pondering the destruction of Jerusalem, he laments over the state of Judah in captivity, but pleas with God for the return of His mercy. “The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.” - Lamentations 5:15-22.
Think about all the suffering that an unsaved person or even one that has backslidden faces and how hopeless they feel, they cannot see God nor trust Him to help them out of their situation. Waiting is not easy, especially when being afflicted, but if we keep looking to Jesus as we walk toward the prize together, it will be worth the wait. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:9,10.
Today's Prayer: God, As we live by faith and not sight, we are called to serve You faithfully as we wait for You to give us the things we need and desire. You know exactly what we need, and if it is in Your will You will give them to us on Your timetable, not ours. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, strengthen us, and help us to look to You for hope and do what is necessary on our part to not only conform to the likeness of Your Son, as we await Your answers. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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