Once again I’m late getting this edition of my Bi-monthly ENewsletter out. Events in our personal life have intensified, magnifying the need for resolute perseverance as never before. As one who has been quoted for saying: “Any time you give up on anything you give up on God,” I had better practice what I preach!
I’m reminded of one of my favorite Christian influencers, Oswald Chambers, who wrote about the discipline of spiritual tenacity. He wrote,
“Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire. Tenacity is more than hanging on, which may be but the weakness of being too afraid to fall off. Tenacity is the supreme effort of a man refusing to believe that his hero is going to be conquered. The greatest fear a man has is not that he will be damned, but that Jesus Christ will be worsted, that the things He stood for–love and justice and forgiveness and kindness among men–will not win out in the end; the things He stands for look like will-o’-the-wisps. Then comes the call to spiritual tenacity, not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately on the certainty that God is not going to be worsted. If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified. There is nothing noble the human mind has ever hoped for or dreamed of hat will not be fulfilled. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God.”
This challenge to consider that our hopes are being purified is exactly what I need and I suspect you do too.
God has clearly stated if we ask anything in His name that is consistent with His will, then we can confidently know He not only hears us, but will answer our prayers. (John 14:14 and 1 John 5:14). The key is to be sure what we ask for, what we hope for, what we dream to come true, is aligned with God’s will. How can we know God’s will? Simply by studying His word–the Bible. That’s the best place to learn of God’s character, will and intentions. Then if we know our prayers are consistent with His will, we should have immoveable faith that our prayers will be answered, albeit in His time.
That’s where Oswald Chamber’s quote also helps us “One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting on God.” In reflecting on this I realized “waiting on God” is not passive, but active. Just as those who serve us meals in restaurants “wait” on us, we are to wait on God. This means to lean in and listen and then do what He instructs. We are to be actively doing what God says in the time of waiting for our prayers to be answered. This process allows God to purify our hopes to best align with His will, and when our prayers align with His will, including wanting His timing, we have every reason to persevere at all costs. Isaiah 40:31 reads, “They that wait upon the Lord . . . shall walk and not faint.” To walk and not faint demonstrates the faith of the purest kind.
About faith from the Amplified, Hebrews 11:6 reads, “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” And about persevering 2 Thessalonians 3:13 states: “And as for you brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening]. How can we possibly persevere in the faith without giving up? We can’t. Not in our own strength. This is why God reminds us to lean on, submit to and depend upon His Holy Spirit, who gives us His strength when we are weak.
The great Apostle Paul grew weary regarding the thorn in his side and took the matter to the Lord. We learn from 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
In addition to leaning on the Holy Spirit, God intends for us to lean on one another. We are to help one another as we are all of one family–the family of God. We are His children and therefore His responsibility. In the same way earthly parents teach their children how to become fully mature able to do much more for themselves as adults than as infants, God wants us to become mature able to partner with Him to see His Kingdom will done on earth as it is in heaven.
I pray this edition of my ENewsletter encourages you to see your personal circumstances and world events from a new perspective that enables you to rest in the Lord, confident that whatever we desire that is consistent with His will shall be done. Hold out faith on God’s Word, on God’s promises. Know that God wants to bless His children in the land of the living. When we properly align ourselves with God, even when our prayers seem to be grossly delayed, if we can focus on the truths of God’s Word, we will find our strength is renewed, we will walk and not grow faint, which means the time will come when we will see our prayers answered–all of them!
Let me hear from you. Your comments and input about my work is greatly appreciated as it encourages me to continue what I am doing. All I do in ministry is with the idea of being obedient to God’s desire for us to help one another. Your prayers for the continuance of the work I do are needed. Please write me at info@PamelaChristianMinistries.com
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