I posted something this morning with the words “gracious
patience” and that phrase has been dancing around in my soul for a little over
two hours because it just resonated with me.
We all know what the words mean individually but they really
pack a punch when you place them together. I began to look at and dissect
scripture that indicated the nature of graciousness. In James 4:6 grace was
affiliated with humility in that pride will limit your ability to give and
receive grace. Ephesians 2:8 stated that grace is a gift from God by way of
faith; you cannot earn it, it is given through your demonstration. Now, here is
where it gets a bit confusing to people, the whole faith and works argument;
God gives grace as God sees fit. People, believers, often struggle with levels
of judgment, analyzing who is deserving of grace (it’s between the recipient
and God) anyone with a judgment needs to refer back to the passage in James.
The word patience involves waiting. The first passage that
immediately came to mind was Psalm 46:10 be still and KNOW that I am God. I
began to think about how I, in times of trial and stress, immediately become
what I like to call “proactive” when I am in reality an activist with an
unknown cause and my discomfort causes me to seek advice and advocates. I fail
to realize that my (dis) ease is a result of the disease called sin, poor choices,
lack of insight, poor impulse control, karma….whatever you want to call it and
sometime I just have to accept that I am just flat out under attack; spiritual
warfare is very reaI; but, at any rate I have to look at what part I played in
it and how I can do better. The second passage of scripture that came to mind
was Isaiah 40:31….they that wait upon the Lord… I don’t know about you but
waiting is one of the most difficult things that I ever have to do. I like
things tied up or in progress where I have the illusion of control or when I
can manifest a timeline for completion…..
For as crazy as things get, I know that my soul has been
anchored and it is in these times that I can feel the power of my faith.
What's your source?
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