Read Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Simple instructions: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. But how? Joy starts with a desire for something good to happen. This desire…which is really hope… requires faith and belief in God’s promises. We are instructed to be patient in the process. Patience can be hard. Patience requires acceptance or tolerance. We may experience painful unpleasantries that involve suffering during this process. We are encouraged to persevere without becoming anxious, trusting in the Lord, being faithful to His ways.
Faithfulness requires consistency, loyalty and devotion. To experience Joy we are given a choice. Joy is more than a feeling. To fully experience this emotion we must consciously make the choice to trust that God can and will fulfill His promises.
What step is the most difficult for you to trust God in this process?
Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of choice and placing desires on our hearts. Help us to trust You completely with the process. Bring to light any areas that we are struggling with and help us to seek encouragement through You and Your Word to be consistent, loyal and completely devoted to You. Thank you for Your faithfulness and the examples You have given us through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. In His Name we pray, Amen
