December 19 – Don’t Settle for Second Best
Dear Marisa,
«My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.»
(James 1:2-3)
I admit, it’s tough to be enthusiastic about going through tests and trials. But can you get excited about being totally supplied in every way, in want of nothing? Well, according to the Word of God, if you’ll use your trials to develop patience, you’re going to be in precisely that position!
You see, patience doesn’t mean what you thought it meant. It does not mean settling sweetly for second best. It does not mean standing meekly by while the devil romps all over you.
No, patience is a powerful word. The New Testament meaning of it as translated literally from the Greek is «to be consistently constant or to be the same way all the time, regardless of what happens.»
To understand how much power is involved in that, you have to realize that it’s one of the most outstanding attributes of God Himself. The Bible says He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.
Think about that for a minute. The guy who absolutely cannot be changed by anyone or anything is an extremely powerful fellow, wouldn’t you say? Obviously, God has that much power.
But you know what? You do too!
By the power of the Holy Ghost working within you, you can be the same every day no matter what happens. If you’ll put your trust in the Word of God and let patience go to work, it won’t matter what happens. You won’t ever have to accept anything less than victory again.
Now that’s something to get excited about.
