“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
The last two posts have been focused on the importance of patience in God’s Kingdom. Patience is part of His Culture.
It’s pretty obvious that most people have very low tolerance for having to wait on things.
We are impatient by nature and want things now that are not intended for us until later.
I understand NOT ALL things are for later, but we get in trouble when we want everything on our time schedule.
Our lack of patience shows a lack of trust. We’re missing faith for the timing that God has strategically planned for our futures. Do we truly believe the scripture that says, “Allthingsworktogether for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”? Not some things, but ALL THINGS for our good.
Let me remind you of some key scriptures we have already read in this series…
James 1:2-4 “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.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Patience is a BIG part of Kingdom Culture. Impatience is a BIG part of this world’s culture. We MUST decide EVERY DAY to choose to accept the season God has us in.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the importance of patience in our walk with God.
I have read Jeremiah 29 so many times. As a matter of fact, one of my life’s scriptures are in this chapter. I catch myself, like many people, ONLY focusing in on the promise of the victory…the end game. I skip over the part about this promise might mean weathering some storms before the victory.
In this chapter, we see the Jewish people were in Babylon by the will of God. It was God’s plan that they would be in Babylon for not just days or weeks, or months or years, but for decades. They would be there for 70 years.
Yes, they were sent into captivity for their sins and disobedience… Even still, by God’s grace, He allowed their captivity to become a place that would save them and children for generations to come. But patience had to have its perfect work.
Jeremiah 29: 4-14 NLT “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
Guzik writes, “Exile didn’t mean that God forgot about them or wanted to destroy them.”
Meyer commented, “Wherever you find yourself, seek the peace and comfort of those about you.”
The passage continues…
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.
This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Guzik says, “God has a future and a hope for His people even when they suffer in exile, even when they hurt under deserved discipline or judgment. It is the devil’s deception to rob God’s people of their sense of His future and a hope for them.”
We continue reading….
In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Whatever holding pattern you are in, keep circling in FAITH. You might feel like you are low on fuel but don’t try to force a landing you are not ready for. God, your “control tower” will let you know when it is time.
There are a lot of things we need to wait for, but something we never have to wait for is His redemption plan. You can be saved today in the middle of your storm. There are promises for us, right now, TODAY, even while we wait. His grace, mercy, and salvation are always available, no patience required!
