A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
September 2, 2009
Patience means awaiting God’s time without doubting God’s love.
READ: Genesis 40:1-14,23
[God] Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5
Have you ever noticed that other people’s forgetfulness can try your patience? As a college professor, I find my patience stretched when a student forgets to do an assignment that’s clearly spelled out in the syllabus.
In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we see a far worse example of forgetfulness—and we can only imagine how he struggled to be patient as a result.
While in prison, Joseph interpreted a dream of the king’s butler, which led to the man’s release. Joseph told him, “Remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house” (Gen. 40:14). It would seem that after Joseph had helped the butler gain freedom, remembering him would have been high on his “to do” list. But it was 2 years before the butler spoke to Pharaoh about Joseph (41:9). Finally, Joseph was freed.
Imagine the impatience Joseph felt as he waited each day in that dungeon (40:15)—perhaps thinking his only chance at freedom had passed. Yet Joseph had a resource: He had God’s presence (39:21), as do we (Heb. 13:5). When you’re feeling impatient, lean on the God who is always with you. He’ll turn your impatience into patient trust. — Dave Branon
Source: Our Daily Bread
Filed under Devotional, Our Daily Bread and tagged with God's Presence, Patience.
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Just last summer, I went through one of the most difficult times in my life. My faith was being tested, and I had to choose to either trust God or trust myself. I had to choose to either await God’s time or take matters into my own hands. The bible lets us know in Romans 14:23 that everything done out of faith is sin.
Most often than not, when we are in the ‘prison of our lives’, when we are experiencing difficult moments in our walk with God, we tend to forget the promises of God and and thus doubt His love for us.
Romans 8:32 (New International Version)
32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
If God did not spare His only begotten son, but graciously gave Him for our sins, how much more will He not bless and and bring us to an expected end.
No matter what you go through, know and remember that God still loves you. He said He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Only trust Him and obey His commands. Obedience is very important.
His presence will fill your life, and you will be able to await his time and not doubt His love.
God bless you.
Renny.
thank you for writing that. i was going through a difficult time a lot like yours, and the reply you wrote really helped guide me in a way. Thank you and God bless!
Hello Esther,
I am glad that the Lord could use what I wrote to bless you.
Be patient, do not doubt His love, and you will see His hand in your life.
Renny.
Hi Renny,
Im right now going through such a difficult time in my life.Your words are a blessing.Thank you.
Wow.. God is faithful. I could really sense the presence of God as I was writing. No wonder God used what I wrote to bless your heart. I am so glad. You cannot imagine.
Please continue to trust God and do not doubt His love. The devil may come to you to suggest to you that God doesn’t love you, and that He has abandoned you and that is why you are going through what you are going through. Do not listen to him! Rebuke Him using The Word of God.
Suggested readings: Hebrews 13:4-5, Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
But please remember to live a life of obedience to God’s word. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Stay blessed.
Renny.
Hi Renny..
scripture says, “For this reason.. it pleased him to bruise his Son..”
lets take notice that Abram.. a man of God had to do the same.. it wasn’t easy for him to place his only begotten son on the alter and still promise his son that God would spare his life by providing a lamb..
the boy had sense to make this comment, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering??”
how should have Abram have reassured the boy that he knew what he was doing??
now place yourself with young Joseph.. your behind bars for no fault of your own.. jus the word of a lustful woman against a Hebrew slave..
how was Joseph to know that one day he would still be an inmate after having helped a guy to be set free..
now place yourself on a Roman cross.. your one on the two bag guys.. one to the left and the other to the right of Jesus..
then buy way of providence.. you rebuke your fellow hardcore buddy this way, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”
now place yourself with yet another inmate.. Paul..
listen to his testimony while under Roman soldiers, “Therefore i want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles and they will listen.”
then after a long prisin sentence.. he came to this conclusion, “Everything i have gained.. i count it as loss.. that i may gain Christ..”
what am i getting @??
being in prison could be both by divine providence.. or a result of our sins.
no one can claim to be without reason for being behind bars..
Young Joseph was full of himself.. he let a little dream show him that one day he would master his father’s household…
the thief on the Roman cross confessed justly that his death was his own doing..
Paul confessed, “Oh wretched man that I am.. who will deliver me from this body of sin?? ”
and what was God’s answer to all these inmates??
“I tell you the truth.. today you will be with me in paradise..”
and Paul concured.. “To be unsent of body is to be present with God..for unless a seed dies.. it cannon reap a fruit.. a hundred fold..fifty.. or even ten”
yet in all this, God’s promise is this, “My grace is sufficient for you..”
so if it pleases the Father to bruise his Son.. and if it was his will that the cup not pass unless the Son taste it.. and if it was the wish of the Son for us do this often in his remembrance..
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. . . . So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:14-19)
Dear Samuel,
I do not quite get what you are trying to say. I think you might have misunderstood my message. I am not against suffering for the cause of Christ. As a matter of fact, the Bible clearly states that we must through many sufferings enter the kingdom of God. Reference: Acts 14:22
But sometimes, God allows as to suffer, not because of anything bad we have done, though we may sin.
Take Job for an instance. I suggest you read the whole book of Job. But on the other hand too, we sometimes bring certain ‘troubles’ upon ourselves by choosing to disobey God. Take the example of the children of Israel in Jeremiah, Isaiah, Lamentations and other books of the old testament. But yet.. in it all.. God can use our circumstances to bring as back to HIMSELF. Reference: Psalm 119:67,71.
Renny.
Hi Renny..
nice of you to reply..
i in know way set to put down your revelation of scripture.. jus to point out what i have been seeing as being pointed out to me as well..
when we talk about suffering.. we must understand that.. since Adam sinned.. all became sinner men..
Psalms 53:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good” ..
vs 3 says, “Everyone has turned away, they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one”..
the NT says that all like sheep have gone astray.. each does what he so desires.. no one does the will of the Father..
Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance..”
Our lord’s prayer.. Forgive us our trespasses..
Lead us not into temptation..
Deliver us fro the Evil one..
Ps 53:6 says, “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad..”
Ps 51.. a prayer of confession by David..
vs 1 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions”..
vs 2 says, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin”.. for if i regard iniquity in me.. you will not hear me.. Oh God.. hide your face not away from me.. but away from my sin..
vs 3 says, “For i know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me..”.. if any man says he has no sin.. he makes God out to be a liar.. and the truth is not in him.. for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God..
vs 5 says, “Surely i was born in sin @ birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me”..Job says.. “Naked i entered this earth.. naked i shall return..”
Genesis 3:17-17-19..
“To Adam he said.. Because you listened to your wife and ate of the tree which i commanded you .. You must not eat.. Cursed be the ground because of you.. thru painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken.. for dust you are.. and to dust you will return.. ”
Job 40.. a confession of Job..
vs 1-2 says, “The lord said to Job.. Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!!”
vs 4 says, “Job said.. I am unworthy- how can i reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth”
read what God Tells Job was his attitude.. Self Justification.. vs 7- 24..
Job 42.. job recants for speaking in haste..
vs 2 says, “I know that you can do all things: no plan of yours can be thwarted.
vs 3 says, You asked.. Who is this who obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely i spoke of things i did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.. ”
vs 5-6 say, “My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen You.. Therefore.. i despise myself and repent in dust and ashes..”
and Jesus finishes like this.. Repent.. for the Kingdom of heaven is @ Hand.. make Straight the Kings Highway…and the King Of Glory shall Return..
vs
Hi Rachael
Be encouraged in every situation. I was also getting extremely impatient waiting for God to answer my prayer until last night. While i was praying in my room and the Lord just caused my eyes to fall on the Daily Bread that has been lying on my desk for quite awhile. With the holy spirit prompting, i pick it up and turn to Sept 2, Wed…wow! It was the word that i can use at that moment because those verses in there were what i just said in my prayer and the Lord confirmed it! i prayed and told the Lord to hold my impatience in His hand in exchange for His joy and peace in my heart and He’s faithful!
Therefore, do not lose hope, wait upon Him without doubting Him!
Dear Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ
My name is meng keat from Malaysia . I have been confessed my sin last year and not yet baptised .. Sometimes i feel so tired in my life sometimes i might think that i will end my life. I know that God has His time to our life in this world . I have been through lots of problem last year, like people betrayed me , friends leave me and don’t care about me , family always argue between my father and my mum. I feel like this world is like so worse and i really need some friends to console me, advice me . But through prayers God really strengthen me. I can really feel it. Hope you all will really pray for me and hopefully i can find a good christian friend in my life so that he will be my best friend till the end of my life . What is True friends means? Where can i find a true friend that can really understand me, my pain, my suffering. Hopefully can get some advice.
i’ll be praying for you. and i know that God will provide you a true, best friend. He understands you completly, just keep going, and never give up on hope.
Dear Meng Keat,
I am so grateful to God that you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart. I may never understand what you are going through. But please know that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. His name is Jesus Christ. And as you can testify yourself through your prayers, God indeed is the best friend anyone could ever wish for.
No greater love has any man, than for a man to lay down his life for a friend (John 15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did on the cross of calvary for you and I.
Please do not strife to seek friendship outside. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that friendship is evil. But if you really want a best friend who will be so loyal and faithful, then make The Lord Jesus Christ your best friend. That is what I have done for the past 14 years of my life, and He has never let me down. I have acquaintances, colleagues, mates and other friends. But when you talk about covenant friendship as in ‘best friends’, it is Jesus and Him alone.
Try that.. your life will be blessed. Share all your problems with God.. He cares for you.
God bless you.
Renny.
Hi everyone,
Its a great joy to interact with fellow believers,isn’t it?
Renny,I totally agree with you.We can never find a friend better than Jesus.Its my personal testimony too.Its good to fellowship with others but nothing can compare to the fellowship that we can enjoy with the Father,Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Thank you all for encouraging me to hold on.Even though Iam going through a difficult time,I have gained a deeper understanding of God’s love for me through this.I have realized how faithful He is even though I have made mistakes.Though my circumstances are not as I want them to be,I have hope and rest in Him because He holds my life in His hands and Im precious to Him.
So no matter what your facing today,you can still rejoice and praise God because He loves you!
God Bless!
Rachel
Its all well n good to fully rely on God for all strength n wisdom..
so.. what of the 10 Commandments?? what are we to make of their order?? 3+7=10..
the firsts 3 commandments talk of our response to God the Creator..
God spoke this words:
Command 1- I am the Lord thy God..You shall not make for thee graven images made by man’s hand.. I the lord God.. I am a jealous God..
Command 2- Ye shalt not take the Name of thy lord God in vein.. thee shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test..
command 3- Remember the Sabbath day.. to keep it holy.. the do work six days.. but the Sabbath day is holy unto Me.. on this day shall ye rest from all works..
now.. these are just 3 commands.. all in response to the relationship between man and his Creator King..
what of the remaining 7 commands?? where do they lay claim??
Genesis 2:18 says, “and the Lord God said.. It is not good for a man to be alone.. I will make him a helper..”
Genesis 2:20 says, “Adam gave names to all cattle and to all foul of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was found no suitable help ”
in the NT.. Jesus also talked about this suitable help God made for Adam.. if in all creation.. there was found no help for Adam.. why did God in Genesis 2:21-24 create woman from Adam’s rib??
Genesis 2:23 says, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken from man”
Matt 4:18-22.. Jesus Calls his First Disciples..
vs 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw tho brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen.
vs 19 “Come, follow me.. Jesus said.. and i will make you fishers of men..”
vs 20 At once they left their nets and followed him..
vs 21 Going on from there.. he saw two other brothers, James the son of of Zebedee and his brother John.. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.. Jesus called them,
vs 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him..
Matt 26:17-20.. Jesus Partakes of the Passover Meal with the Twelve..
vs 17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.. the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover??”
vs 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him.. the Teacher says.. My appointed tome is near.. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples @ your house..”
vs 19 So the disciples did as Jesus directed them and prepared the Passover..
vs 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclined @ the table with the Twelve..
The Last 7 Commandments were summed up to us by Jesus this way..
Matt 22:39.. The Greatest Commandment.. “… And the second command this.. Love your neighbour as yourself”
Two Poems on friendship: Lift others..
blesses is the man who falls.. for his brother will pick him up!!
From the book: The 6 most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make.. by Sean Covey..
A Poem by John Greenleaf Whittier..
“Thee lift me and i lift thee.. and we’ll both ascend together..”
A Poem by Edwin Markham..
“There is a Destiny which makes us Brothers.. None goes on His way Alone.. All that we Send into the lives of Others, comes back into OUR OWN..”
Abraham Lincoln was often criticized for trying to make fiends with his enemies instead of trying to get rid of them.. He replied, “Isn’t that what I’m doing when i make my enemy a friend??”
A last word on friendship: Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you..
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.. Love Them Anyway..
if you do good, people will accuse you for self-ulterior motives.. Do Good Anyway..
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.. Succeed Anyway..
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow.. Do Good Anyway..
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable..Be Honest and Frank Anyway..
What you send years building may be destroyed over night.. Build Anyway..
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.. Help People Anyway..
give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.. Give The World The best You Have Anyway..
God Bless!!