“FOR WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE: BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE: FOR WHAT A MAN SEETH, WHY DOTH HE YET HOPE FOR?  BUT IF WE HOPE FOR THAT WE SEE NOT, THEN DO WE WITH PATIENCE WAIT FOR IT.  LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES: FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT: BUT THE SPIRIT ITSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED.  AND HE THAT SEARCHETH THE HEARTS KNOWETH WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE HE MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. – ROMANS 8:24-28

Anyone who says God doesn’t answer prayers has never prayed for patience.

He answers. Yes, how He does answer.

We pray for patience because we get irritated and want to instantaneously have a peace over it the situation. Being patient would help, wouldn’t it?

Have you ever prayed for patience? I have. Apparently, I didn’t quite understand the magnitude of what I was doing when the words came out of my mouth. Praying for patience is praying for trials. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again you don’t get patience sprinkled over your life like fairy dust.  That’s not how it works.  Situations come up so you learn to endure and overcome.  Your faith is strengthened…

“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.  IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.

BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. FOR HE THAT WAVERETH IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN WITH THE WIND AND TOSSED.  FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE ANY THING OF THE LORD.

A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.” – JAMES 1:2-8

How do you overcome?  Through the power of the Holy Spirit…(otherwise you end up with bad habits trying to put a bandaid on the bigger picture).  Yes, peace can come in an instant. Patience can come in an instant. But, I’m learning that when you pray for patience you better really be certain of what you are doing. God works in mysterious ways and His answers are contrary to how our human mind would logically figure something out. He is the God of miracles, signs, and wonders. He is the Creator of everything. He is the Author of time. He is eternal. My small mind cannot comprehend that. It in no way falls in line with human reasoning. We cannot fathom eternity and not having a timeline because if we could we wouldn’t have gray hair or panic attacks.

Trust. That’s what God wants from His children. That’s what we are… Children. We grow from glory to glory as we get closer to Him.

“THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, WHAT SHALL WE DO, THAT WE MIGHT WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?  JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM HE HATH SENT.
THEY SAID THEREFORE UNTO HIM, WHAT SIGN SHEWEST THOU THEN, THAT WE MAY SEE, AND BELIEVE THEE? WHAT DOST THOU WORK?  OUR FATHERS DID EAT MANNA IN THE DESERT; AS IT IS WRITTEN, HE GAVE THEM BREAD FROM HEAVEN TO EAT.

THEN JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, MOSES GAVE YOU NOT THAT BREAD FROM HEAVEN; BUT MY FATHER GIVETH YOU THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN.  FOR THE BREAD OF GOD IS HE WHICH COMETH DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND GIVETH LIFE UNTO THE WORLD.

THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, LORD, EVERMORE GIVE US THIS BREAD.

AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME SHALL NEVER THIRST.  BUT I SAID UNTO YOU, THAT YE ALSO HAVE SEEN ME, AND BELIEVE NOT.  ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVETH ME SHALL COME TO ME; AND HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.  FOR I CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, NOT TO DO MINE OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME.  AND THIS IS THE FATHER’S WILL WHICH HATH SENT ME, THAT OF ALL WHICH HE HATH GIVEN ME I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING, BUT SHOULD RAISE IT UP AGAIN AT THE LAST DAY.

AND THIS IS THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, THAT EVERY ONE WHICH SEETH THE SON, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE: AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.” – JOHN 6:28-40

Time. It’s hard to not feel like we don’t have enough time.  We have things we want accomplish and goals we need to reach.  We only have so much time.  We rush and rush and rush….for what?  We have 24 hours in a day and 7-8 of those are spent sleeping. Another 8 is probably spent working so that right there has cut at least 16/24 hours. It’s being used up by things we have to do that may not be what we actually want to be doing. Everyone lives for the weekend and can’t wait for Friday to clock out of work and have two days to ‘live’.

But why? Why can’t we be content with what we are doing day to day and even through the week? We chose our life. Sometimes our circumstances may not be ideal, but for the most part we chose where we work or we chose what we do for the remainder of the time in that day. Yet, we are not content.  What are we striving for?

I am learning that no matter what you think or try to do God is in control. There is not one thing you can do to change a season you are not yet meant to be in.

It’s so easy to focus on our circumstances, isn’t it? Faith is having hope in something we can’t see and as it states in Romans what is hope in what you can see? That isn’t faith or hope. Hope is having faith in what you can’t see and with patience do we wait for it.

Our circumstances are so easy to focus on sometimes especially when we pray for something and it never seems to come.  All we see is the thing we are lacking.  We wait and wait and pray and wait some more and nothing seems to be happening.  Or is it?

We may feel stuck in a situation or a season that never seems to end. We see our problem and where we are. “I am stillll here!!” Changes . That’s what we crave isn’t it? As scary as it can be that’s one thing that we all want. Well, maybe just me. I fear change, but also fear not moving forward. (Quite a pickle, right?)  We get used to routine, but we also don’t want to be stagnant.

Well, isn’t it amazing how God works. By not having our situation change (no matter how much we may want it to) He sometimes uses that to change us. Look at your life a year ago. Is it the same? Two years ago? You may be at the same job. You may be in the same car. You may still have the same friends. You may be in the same state. From the outside your life may not have changed at all. You may be praying for the same things that haven’t happened yet. You may be exactly where you were two years ago physically, but what about your heart? Have you grown? Have you learned from your mistakes? Have you made relationships for the better? Maybe you lost some people in your life. Maybe you gained some. Maybe you lost people you never thought you would and it hurt. Sometimes, God has us in an isolated position to make us grow and the only way we can grow is to cut off relationships that will inhibit that growth. That can be very painful as humans were made for relationships and not being alone. I know a year ago I wasn’t the same person that I am now. God has taught me so much and while my circumstances look the same on the outside my heart is entirely different.

One of the great things about our amazing God is He sends what we need right when we need it. He is never late and never early. He is always on time.

The thing about being a Christian is now you have two natures: flesh and spirit. They cannot agree and they war against each other. So while you are a new creature in Christ you are still in this carnal body that needs to be controlled. We all have free will of which we choose to obey either sin or God. They are two different paths that produce two different types of fruit to manifest in your life. Having the Holy Spirit gives you the power to overcome the schemes of the devil. The temptations don’t go away, but how you deal with them differently. Before the new creature you were more inclined to sin. The flesh needs to be satisfied so you go with what will satisfy and it will always be temporary.

Cast all your care on Him because he cares for you. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks around like a lion seeking whom he may devour.

Satan knows exactly how to creep in and get you to take your eyes off of Jesus and onto the circumstance.

I had a pretty emotional weekend as I was dealing with some stuff, but God is ever faithful. Like I just stated the devil comes seeking to destroy and he knows exactly how to get us to doubt. He knows. But, thankfully I serve a God who conquered him and he is defeated. I can overcome by the Holy Spirit which is a gift. I can only be thankful for it. The key to those moments of uncertainty and doubt is clinging to His word. It is hard if you are doubting and anxious to be still and not overanalyze if God is listening to your stubborn heart. That’s a lie from the devil. As His child of course He is there. He wants us to run to Him with our troubles.

Along with listening to psalms I read and re read John 14-16 which talks about Jesus going away and sending the comforter. Let not your hearts be troubled. I also read John 6. It was so refreshing to read. One of the origins of anxiety is fear of the unknown right? Where am I going? What is happening in my life? John 6 talks about the will of God for Christians which is so simple and comforting. The will of God for Christians is so simple and just to believe in Him and follow His commandments. What greater witness is there really? You look at the world and the only thing that would make you stand out is to actually live like Jesus said. He never stressed about His life. He was God. He was there in the beginning. He knew the plan. He and the father were one. He never questioned anything … He was a humble, suffering servant who came to this earth to be mocked and ridiculed and during all of that still was crucified so that all might be saved. Will everyone choose Him? No. He knew that. But the ones who did get life everlasting and a peace and joy that can’t be taken away. We all have a chance.

It’s always darkest before the dawn. Sometimes we have to wrestle before the calm, but it’s just a moment.  It’s the flesh fighting against the spirit.  It can be rough, can’t it?  We want what we want.  The problem obviously isn’t God.  The problem is us.  He is perfect.

^“THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THE TWELVE, WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY?
THEN SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.  AND WE BELIEVE AND ARE SURE THAT THOU ART THAT CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” – JOHN 6:67-69

When situations get tough it’s easy to run to something that temporarily comforts us.  I know for me when I get anxious it’s easy for me to run.  Yes, that tires you out and is good for anxiety as you burn off the energy, but it’s a band aid.  (You could also cut down your trees in the front yard…that’s another post…)  But, it all comes down to Jesus is the cure.

In Luke 24 all of their hope left them. Everything they abandoned their lives for died and they were walking around confused. Was their life a lie? Can you imagine how long those three days must have been?

Jesus came back and was walking among them. They didn’t recognize Him as He blinded them and went on to explain the plan of salvation from to now. He came to fulfill the law. He was indeed who they were waiting for. they didn’t understand at the time but when he opened their eyes and let them see who He was they rejoiced. Their hope wasn’t in vain. What they were living for was real and they were so excited. What they waited for and it was true.

And that was such a reminder for me. Jesus is all that matters.

The enemy seeks to destroy and steal our joy, but Jesus is all we need (1 Peter 5). So the world strives and looks for hope in things that will never satisfy.  The world is filled with evil and depressing news.  We are looking for peace.  If we had this and that we would be happy, but the reality is the quest will never be over.  But, with Jesus…the search is over.  He is the missing piece.  He is the living water.  He quenches every thirst.  Life is hard, but it’s beautiful with Him.

All that is required of us is to love God and follow His commandments. We only have to be concerned with what he says. Comparing ourselves to other people’s timelines is a dangerous thing. If you look closely at other people’s lives would you really want it? God prepares us for what He gives us at the exact moment we are meant to receive it. We are sojourners in this life awaiting the next. What else matters than being loved by and getting to spend eternity with the Almighty God and Creator of the world. And all He wants is our heart. That’s all He asks of us is to ignore the pleasures of this world and seek His kingdom. Anything else is a bonus.

I had to deal with some things over the weekend.  Jesus loves me.  He is jealous for me and will cut off anything and everything that could distract me from Him.

All we need is Jesus. He is why we are here.

Doberge cake lesson:
Doberge isn’t a cake made by the easily faint of heart.  It requires time and patience.  You have to make the custard on the stove, let it set, bake the cake, trim the layers, and make the icing.  It’s a lot of time.  It can be frustrating.

But, it’s one step at a time and has a beautiful, delicious ending.

Good things take time.

You just need some patience.  😀