Patiently Resting and Trusting

“Patiently Resting and Trusting”

Psalm 27:14; 59:9-10; 62:1-2; Isa. 40:31; John 11

                                                            

SUBJECT: GOD’S STRENGTH IN FRUSTRATIONS. 

THEME: You Can Overcome the Frustrations by the Wisdom and Strength of the Lord.  

RELEVANCE: Why is this important to us? We need to understand the source of our frustrations is Satan (these are spiritual battles) and trust the Lord to help us overcome these hindrances. God prescribes specific practices to escape the trap of impatience like patience, rest, and trust. 

INTRODUCTION: 

God wants us to actively participate in the work he desires to accomplish. Waiting strategically can cultivate good fruit in our lives such as patience, perseverance, and endurance. It also draws us closer to our Savior and points those who are watching us to the gospel.

MESSAGE:

FRUSTRATION COULD BE ROOTED IN IMPATIENT ATTITUDES

Psalm 27:14, Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

 A.  ARE YOU RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD?

B.  WAITING ON GOD BUILDS ADVANTAGES AND PATIENCE.

C.  WAITING ON GOD IS A CHOICE TO PATIENTLY REST IN HIS PLAN.

Again, the disadvantages of getting ahead of God are evident. Peter was notorious for trying to get ahead of God's plan, even to the slicing off of a man's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus, on the other hand, never showed up too early or too late. He always arrived right on time, in keeping with what the Father was doing. Learning to wait on God's timing is one of the hallmarks of the maturity. 

Psalm 59:9-10, Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. [10] The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm 62:1-2, To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. [2] He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

The Lord doesn't catapult us into greatness; He grows us into spiritual maturity.

He stretches us slowly so that we don't break.

He expands our vision slowly so that we can take in all of the details of what He desires to accomplish.

He causes us to grow slowly so that we stay balanced.

The unfolding of God's plan for your life is a lifelong process. Relax in His presence and allow Him to lead the journey and do His work in you. (Dr. C. Stanley)

D. WAITING ON GOD IS AN ACT OF TRUST AND FAITH.

Waiting on God is not passive idleness, but a positive, active posture of trust, hope, and faithful endurance. Waiting with confident expectations are never put to shame and ultimately receive divine strength, justice, and deliverance.

1. King David Patiently Waiting on God While Trusting Him (Psalm 40:1-3)

a.      David details an agonizing season of waiting, often associated with his flight from King Saul. He emphasizes that this is not wasted time but a period where God hears prayers and prepares a firm foundation.

b.     Psalm 40:1-2, I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

2. The Prophet Isaiah Waited on God’s Promise with Solid Confidence (Isaiah 40:31)

a.      Isaiah provides the ultimate promise for waiting on God, teaching that divine waiting exchanges our weariness for God’s supernatural strength.

b.     Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Perhaps waiting on God feels impractical because we perceive a different outcome than God does…we want something quite different from what God has in mind. Sometimes we are guilty of wanting things far too small when God is thinking much bigger, grander, and strategically. Further, our expectations may even be more focused on ourselves and not necessarily the broader plan of God.

This kind of thing happen repeatedly in the Bible, but it was especially punctuated in John 11 with the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Often, we impose our limitations on God restricting Him to fit into our expectations, when God is not limited like that at all. Our need for Him and the opportunity to transcend normal is presented through life’s challenges, but few seldom realize the opportunities to trust Him and surpass the limitations of our experience. It is true death, the grave, and the stench of death are very real limitations we cannot overcome no matter how sincere we are. It is also true that we allow ourselves to ‘think’ within the confines of those limits and we don’t even consider possibilities beyond them…. We err when we impose those same limits onto God only expecting or even requiring Him to operate within our ‘level’ of comprehension. He is NOT obligated to function that way, and further He really knows where He is doing with each opportunity. He has a strategic plan!

It is precisely at this juncture we feel acutely the frustrations not realizing God is itching to introduce something mind-blowing and life changing! Jesus requires ‘faith’—believing Him to realize the greater realities! Sometimes we are so consumed with the past… ‘what we perceived should have been’, we haven’t even entertained future possibilities yet. We would have been happy with a ‘healing’, but God wants a ‘resurrection!’ We may envision the local impact of a ‘resurrection’ miracle but not yet perceive the farther-reaching impact of such a testimony for future disciples. We can influence a ‘healing’ with our prayers, but only God can work His divine plan for our future. The first instance courts our pride, but the second option illuminates the ‘grace’ of God!

You and I must trust Him to do the impossible…He knows no such limitations. We must stop thinking too small…too selfishly; start living by ‘faith’ in God’s limitless power and strategic plan. We will experience far less frustration when we do.

CONCLUSION: 

The Lord will do whatever it takes to prod us toward His higher places. He'll make us restless with where we are if it is time for us to move on. He'll cause us to hunger and thirst for more of Him. He'll plant within us a desire for things we never dreamed of desiring in our relationship with Him.

Trust God with all of the circumstances, relationships, and schedules in your life. Rest in Him. He desires to be your strong and sure haven in all times of frustration. (Dr. C. Stanley)

Exodus 20:8-11, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

However, these difficult periods are meant to build endurance and draw us closer to God rather than just being empty time.

When the wait feels overwhelming, these perspectives and practices can help make the season a bit more manageable. When the future is unclear, focus on what you know to be true about God's character rather than what you don't know about your life. Instead of just being passive, you can channel this time into prayer, writing down what you are grateful for, and resting in the present.

Are you currently waiting for direction in a specific area of your life, or are you just looking for encouragement to help you get through today?

 

I'm Struggling with Waiting

 

“Overcoming Waiting Frustrations”

Psalm 27:14; 40:1-4; Lament. 3:24-26                      

SUBJECT: GOD’S STRENGTH IN FRUSTRATIONS.

THEME: You Can Overcome the Frustrations by the Wisdom and Strength of the Lord.  

RELEVANCE: Why is this important to us? We need to understand the source of our frustrations is Satan (these are spiritual battles) and trust the Lord to help us overcome these hindrances. God prescribes specific practices to escape the trap of impatience like patience, His control, prayer, trust, and fellowship with Him.    

INTRODUCTION: 

An impatient state of mind includes struggles to tolerate delays, obstacles, or slow progress. It is often characterized by an intense longing for things to happen immediately, often resulting in feelings of frustration, irritation, or restlessness when expectations are not met. This is far from ideal!

MESSAGE:

FRUSTRATION COULD BE ROOTED IN IMPATIENT ATTITUDES

Psalm 27:14, Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

There are also times when our feelings of frustration are rooted simply in a hurry-up attitude—impatience. We become impatient with the timing of certain events or changes that we desire in our lives. David’s wise counsel is to “wait on the Lord: be of good courage.”

“Courage” because ‘waiting’ on God is rarely easy, especially in a fast-paced culture that expects instant results. Waiting often highlights our lack of control and brings feelings of tension or frustration.

A.  ARE YOU RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD?

Impatient attitudes are generally framed as foolish, destructive, and lacking in faith revealing that we are indeed running ahead of God. 

1.     God Warns Us Against the Problems of Impatience:

a.      Proverbs 14:29, He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

b.     Proverbs 16:32, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

c.      Ecclesiastes 7:9, Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

d.     James 1:19, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

The Bible warns that rushing ahead of God's timing often leads to sin, anger, strife, frustration, and regret, while urging believers to practice patience and resting in the Lord instead.

2.     God Gives Us Concrete Examples Where Impatience Led to Terrible Outcomes:

a.      King Saul’s Impatience (1 Samuel 13:8-14): Saul grew impatient waiting for the prophet Samuel to arrive and perform a sacrificial offering. Taking matters into his own hands, Saul disobeyed God's commands, ultimately costing him his royal kingdom.

b.     Abraham and Sarah’s Haste (Genesis 16:1-6): Despite God's promise to give them a son, Sarah grew impatient with the wait and gave her servant Hagar to Abraham to conceive. This hasty workaround resulted in deep jealousy, family strife, and historical conflict.

c.      The Nation of Israel’s Hurry (Exodus 32:1-4): While waiting for Moses to return from Mount Sinai, the people grew impatient and demanded that Aaron craft a golden idol to worship, provoking God's severe wrath.

Rushing ahead of God’s timing often means allowing anxiety or comparison push us to force outcomes. Instead of waiting for doors to open naturally, we might find ourselves trying to manipulate situations. This impatience can lead to unnecessary stress and blunders, as we take matters into our own hands rather than trusting God’s broader plan.

A restlessness in spirit can manifest itself as a tendency to run past God's will. You may know what God wants you to do, and in eagerness to get the job done, you forget that God also has a perfect timetable for accomplishing His will. Just as the Lord has a right thing for you to do, a right path in which you are to walk, and a right growth pattern for your faith, so, too, He has a right time for each step He leads you to take. (Dr. C. Stanley)

God describes impatience not just as a minor annoyance, but as a spiritual trap. He warns that rushing and impatience lead to poor decisions, stir up conflict, and often stem from a lack of trust in His perfect timing and sovereignty. (From Christian Life Resources)

B.  WAITING ON GOD BUILDS ADVANTAGES AND PATIENCE.

Psalm 27:14, Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Numerous times in the Bible we find an advantage associated with “waiting on the Lord.” Waiting means, in part, saying to the Lord, “Is now the time? I'm waiting until You give me the green light before I go.” 

     1.  Waiting Creates Time During Which We Can Trust God.

David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at age sixteen but didn't become king until he was thirty. During the interim, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom. (Dr. C. Stanley)

God Counsels and Encourages us to Live more Patiently.

Instead of relying on immediate gratification or control, God directs believers to practice patience and trust in His timing:

a.      Psalm 27:14, Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

b.     James 5:7-8, Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

c.      James 1:4, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Wait on the Lord by faith, and prayer, and a humble resignation to his will; wait, I say, on the Lord; whatever you do, grow not remiss in your attendance upon God. (2.) Keep up your spirits in the midst of the greatest dangers and difficulties: Be of good courage; let your hearts be fixed, trusting in God, and your minds stayed upon him, and then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage.^[1]

     2.  Waiting for God Is Not Easy Though.

Often it seems that He isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation.

          A.  The Implications of Impatience.

That kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But the Bible never states that God is not in control or that He is unfair. Instead, God is entirely sovereign and totally just. The Bible actively addresses our complaints that God is not fair by pointing out that His ways are equal, but our actions are often not. (See Ezekiel 18:25, 29; Acts 10:34). The Bible consistently affirms God's supreme authority, control over human plans, and overall orchestration of events.

·        Proverbs 19:21, There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

·        Isaiah 46:10, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

          B.  The Benefits of Patience.

God gives us incentives to encourage us to wait on Him and His wisdom.

Psalm 40:1-4, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. [2] He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. [3] And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. [4] Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

Waiting on God prepares us to have our real needs met. Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David received four benefits from waiting: God:

             1. Lifted Him out of His Despair;

             2. Set His Feet on a Hard, Firm Path;

             3. Steadied Him as He Walked; and

             4. Put a New Song of Praise in His Mouth.

Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.  

Always bear in mind that God is worth waiting for. Lament. 3:24-26, The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. [25] The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. [26] It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. We are called to hope in and wait on the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

          C.  The Examination of our Hearts.

If you have a pattern of getting ahead of God's timing, ask yourself,

“What am I looking for in life? Why do I keep running right past God's will in trying to get it? What am I in a hurry for?”

Psalm 37:34, Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psalm 25:21, Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

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^[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 780.

Correcting Pride to Be Fruitful

“Correcting Pride to Be Fruitful”

Prov. 3:12; John 15:1-8 

SUBJECT: CORRECTIONS ADVERSITY COMPELS US TO MAKE

THEME: Understanding God’s design to develop and transform us encourages us to respond favorably toward our troubles. Clearly God desires that we humble ourselves to his will. When troubles come, we must examine our hearts for prideful attitudes and correct them to continue to bear spiritual fruit.  

RELEVANCY:

Nothing compels us to take inventory and make spiritual changes like troubles. When facing adversity, it is important to look inward to see what corrections should be made to truly stay on course with the Lord’s will.

Certainly, we must move forward in growth, and trouble is God’s tool to encourage us along.  Therefore, we need to understand HOW to respond to troubles for spiritual benefit.  

INTRODUCTION:

The Lord Always Requires His Beloved Children to Make Changes in at Least Four Areas.

The Lord insists that we:

    A) conquer pride and humble ourselves to His will.

    B) come to the place where we hate sin and purge ourselves of evil.

    C) sift our friendships so that they are in keeping with His plan for our lives.

    D) adjust our priorities so that we place highest value on the things of God and, in turn, adopt new habits of behavior based on right priorities.

Sometimes Pride, Sin, Harmful Relationships, and Wrong Priorities Are So Deeply Embedded Within Us That We Can Hardly Recognize Them in Ourselves. During such dangerous blindness we need God’s help. Today let’s concentrate more on correcting our attitude of pride to be more fruitful.  

 MESSAGE:

I.  WHAT MOTIVATES THE LORD TO CORRECT OUR PRIDE?

Proverbs 3:12, For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

God out of love for us seeks to make us more like Christ using trouble. A prideful reaction to trouble would likely involve defensiveness, stubbornness, or even denial. Instead of accepting God’s help or acknowledging our mistake, our ego-driven response often leads to deflecting blame, dismissing constructive feedback, or masking vulnerability with anger and a false sense of superiority.

Some common carnal and prideful behaviors may include:

• Blame Shifting: Refusing to take accountability by shifting responsibility onto others or the situation.
• Rejecting God’s Help: Stubbornly refusing assistance from the Lord out of a fear of appearing weak or needy.
• Antagonism and Defensiveness: Responding to God’s correction with hostility, irritability, or sarcasm to protect one's self-image.
• Doubling Down: Committing deeper to a flawed course of action just to prove oneself right.

We only prolong the trouble with such reactions and guarantee its reoccurrence! Even when we become complacent and due to His great love, the Lord may permit troubles to come our way to jostle us forward in our spiritual walk. If we begin to walk just one degree away from the truth—in pride we will soon find ourselves a long way from the path of righteousness the Lord intended.

OUR LORD IS MOTIVATED TO CORRECT US SO THAT WE BEAR MORE FRUIT.

Another reason the Lord corrects us is that we may be fruitful. Jesus taught this point using the analogy of a vine and its branches:

John 15:1-8, I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Our Lord taught that believers must stay intimately connected to Him to be spiritually productive. Christ is the true source of spiritual life, God the Father shapes and nurtures believers, and bearing “fruit” represents exhibiting holy character and beneficial activities. This brings ‘glory’ to God! Accordingly, what can we learn….

   1. A Diligent Farmer Works Hard to Prepare the Plants to Bear Fruit.  Vs 1-2

God, our heavenly Father, is the “husbandman” or vinedresser—farmer. As the Gardener, He cultivates the Vine and the branches to achieve their best productivity; a grapevine needs the attention of an insightful gardener. Wild vines are rather unproductive. God’s role of producing growth is somethings the Bible’s repeatedly portrayal. (1 Cor 3:6; Col 2:19).

      A.  The Father Prunes Us.

John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

           1. Pruning is a Continuous Matter.

He will continue to prune us—so that everything in our lives bears fruit or, in other words, is beneficial to his eternal purposes.   Vs 2

           2. Pruning is a Painful Matter.

Whatever he cuts away from our lives, even though it may involve the pain of adversity or trial, is for our benefit. It's dead wood as far as the Lord is concerned, and dead wood occupies space—or in the case of our lives, our time and energy—that could be occupied by fruit-bearing activities.

I once played basketball religiously; my friends and I would play several “pick-up” games every evening after work. It was normal to play seven days a week for at least 2 hours each evening at the gym. I really loved the game and could play well! But when I was saved, I could not afford to spend as much time at the gym as I uses to. I could not be faithful to the Lord’s House and play Sunday morning B-Ball also. Further, I could not build a solid relationship with my wife if I were playing basketball every evening after work. I could not involve myself in church visitation activities and our own neighborhood German ministry if I continued to play basketball every evening. God ‘purged’ my life of many aspects of basketball so that my time and energies could be used to share the gospel, learn about the Lord Jesus, and to serve other believers. My life became more ‘fruitful’ for Christ because the Father as the farmer cut away excess—wasted time and energy—in my life to enable me to be more fruitful for His Kingdom.

     B.  The Father Focuses Us.  John 15:2

 The act of pruning appears harsh at times, but so necessary. The farmer cuts back the lush, growing branches just as they are about to flower. But all of this is done for the ultimate good and benefit of all involved.

           1. From Good to Better.

The wise gardener knows that good must sometimes be sacrificed for better. Grape branches can grow very fast and very long (twelve to twenty feet). But as they develop length and size, they use resources that could be channeled into making fruit. Pruning focuses the growth and energy of the plant. A lush vine with little fruit has failed its purpose.

Our Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you. Sometimes He cuts away the dead wood that might cause trouble; but often He cuts off the living tissue that is robbing you of spiritual vigor. Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery that removes what is bad. It can also mean cutting away the good and the better so that we might enjoy the best.  Yes, pruning hurts, but it also helps. We may not enjoy it, but we need it.                                                                       

           2. From Believers to Disciples.     Jn. 15:7-8

God’s pruning of our lives can be painful. He may limit or remove achievements, objects, and abilities. These may not be wrong in themselves, but God knows they will detract from our fruitfulness. We must not resent God's pruning. Instead, God's discipline should cause us to turn to him with renewed desire to be productive.

Furthermore, the Lord says that in abiding in him and his word, and in bearing fruit, we are his disciples.

    2. Our Diligent Father Invests Real Energy to Prepare Believers to Bear Fruit.

 Just as the pruning of vines is important to their fruitfulness, so the Lord's correction is necessary for us to accomplish our God-given purpose in life and to find deep inner fulfillment.

         A.  Rejoice in the Father’s Thoughtful Pruning.   Jn. 15:11

Rather than shudder at the thought of the Lord's pruning, we should rejoice. We are about to be liberated of all dead weight and falsehood that may keep us from blessings.                    

ARE YOU ATTACHED?

Many people try to be good, honest people who do what is right. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to him, like a branch attached to a vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the Vine? If not, you are missing the key to living the Christian life. 

The greatest judgment God could bring to a believer would be to leave him alone, let him have his own way. Because God loves us, He “prunes” us and encourages us to bear more fruit for His glory (Jn. 15:8). If the branches could speak, they would confess that the pruning process hurts; but they would also rejoice that they will be able to produce more and better fruit.

           B.  Respond Complicitly to the Father’s Purging.

How does the Father prune us?

                1. The Word Cleanses Us.

Sometimes He simply uses the Word to convict and cleanse us. (The word translated “purge” in John 15:2 is the same as “clean” in John 13:10. See also Eph 5:26-27.  So, the original Greek word for “purgeth” means pruning or cleansing. Even when a branch is producing fruit, God will trim and shape it so it can produce more fruit. Getting into the Word and allowing it to cleanse our thoughts, priorities, goals, motivations, dreams, skills, ideals, and values, is behaving with alignment with God.

Beloved, God's refining process in the life of a true believer, while it can involve the Bible, trials, discipline, and challenges, this pruning removes distractions, bad habits, and parasitic extensions that drain spiritual energy. Though the process can be painful, it is an act of divine love intended to build spiritual maturity and character.

                2. The Father Corrects Us. 

Sometimes He must chasten us (Heb 12:1-11). At the time, it hurts when He removes something precious from us; but as the “spiritual crop” is produced, we see that the Father knew what He was doing all along.

The more we abide in Christ, the more fruit we bear; and the more fruit we bear, the more the Father has to prune us so that the quality keeps up with the quantity. Left to itself, the branch might produce many clusters, but they will be inferior in quality. God is glorified by a bigger crop that is also a better crop. 

CONCLUSION:

Realizing God desires to correct our attitude of pride, focuses our self-examinations and identifies changes we need to make to be fruitful and more fruitful. We can really live for God’s glory by being more fruitful!

Remember, if we begin to walk just one degree away from the truth—in pride, we will soon find ourselves a long way from the path of righteousness the Lord desires us. Are you dealing with troubles? Isn’t it time to take a look inward to see what you may need to correct? Are you still on course with what the Lord has for you? I know from personal experience this requires humbling ourselves to embrace God’s will more completely. Though I am ashamed of it, I have even had brief periods of anger with God because of the level of pain and difficulty…. Still, we must insist on moving forward in the Lord trusting Him to guide us to greater fruitfulness. The goal is always growth in Christ. Trouble is God’s tool to encourage us along. Therefore, respond to Him with cooperation, submission, and compliance to realize God’s intended fruitfulness.