Today, we continue our devotions from the book “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman.

Today it’s all about the challenge of patience, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us!

THE CHALLENGE:

Romans 15: 3-5 starts our plea, “Father, help me to be patient.”

3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[ 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.

Patience has been defined as learning to accept difficult situations without giving God a deadline for their removal.

We know we need patience, but we generally shun the process by which we learn. We want it now. We can’t wait. When we do this and decide we can’t wait for God’s direction…and move ahead on our own…the Old Testament has something to remind us.

“Wait on the Lord, be of good courage; and he shall strengthen your heart. Wait I say on the Lord.” That’s from Psalm 27:14.

The bible promises our trials and tribulations will produce patience as you learn to endure, to bear up, persevere and to keep holding on with no worldly help in sight. If you do so, God will grant you all the patience you need.

THE POWER

So where do we turn for daily guidance on how to live, what to do, where to go, whom to see, and how to make decisions? And how to find that patience we need?

John 14: 16-17 gives us a clue…

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

The scriptures say the only guide worth trusting is the Holy Spirit.

He’s the only one who knows your past completely…from the moment you were conceived to the present…and who knows your future from this day to eternity.

Only he knows God’s plan and purpose for you what is fully good and right for you. The spirit of Truth is the inner compass for your life, pointing you toward what Jesus would be, say, or do in any given moment.

God desires to make his will known to you. He wants you to know what to do and when to do it…and he gives you this knowledge through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Trust the Holy Spirit to be your daily guide.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd