A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver – Proverbs 25v11
Today we continue our study in Psalm 37 and our verse today is v7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes”.
We all want the Holy Spirit fruit of love, joy and kindness, but not many of us seek the fruit of patience because it doesn’t fit in with our modern day lifestyle of “instant gratification”. For instance when we pray we expect God to answer immediately and when He doesn’t we continue to bombard and harass Him thinking He will succumb to constant pleading. We even get others to intercede on our behalf believing that numbers will tip the scale, but God is not deaf nor is He indifferent to our needs.
1 Thessalonians 5v17 is helpful in understanding about prayer- “pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. We are to keep on praying, but not necessarily for the same thing. I want us to note that the context makes it clear that this verse commands us to give thanks even when God hasn’t answered our prayer. Why give thanks? Because often God hasn’t answered our prayer because what we desired is not good for us and He has a better plan which requires us to stand still and wait patiently . Let us be clear that patience is not silent resignation-it involves expectation that something better is happening as we read in Isaiah 40v31 “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary”. Friends God is faithful and He loves us, cares for us and wants the best for us. Waiting patiently is hard, but the time is not wasted because we will be strengthened in our faith in the meantime.
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood