Today's Scripture James 1:4
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Patience! I don't know too many people that like that word, it is definitely an area I have to work on in my own life. We like things fast and we like them right now. We like convenience. We want to hurry things along to the harvest, but growth requires time and patience.
God has a plan for carrying you to completion. He sends the sunshine and pours out the rain. He lifts up and prunes to produce fruit. He plans to make every barren area abundant. His intention isn't to harm, but to prosper.
Do not resent the growth process as an intrusion in your life. Don't try to cut it off prematurely. Allow patience to do its work in you until you fully bloom and produce the fruit that God seeks.
Endure the season of sorrow because joy comes in the morning. Trust through the time of need because the righteous have never been forsaken; His children do not beg for bread. In the middle of the tempest, be assured that God rides on the wings of the storm. In the day of battle, find defense in our Shield and Defender. Even in the fiery furnace, He walks beside us through the flames.
Trust Him as you allow patience to perform its refining work. Your life will be a perfect thing of beauty in His hands.
Today's Prayer:
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you His peace. He who began a good work in you will continue to develop it until Jesus returns. May His perfect will be accomplished in you through the power of Jesus’ name…amen.