(April) Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Practical application: Persist in prayer and supplication for something God has promised you that is not manifested yet.
Today's Scriptural Reference:
1Th 1:3 NKJV - "3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,"
When I started working on this ministry website back in 2011, I had no idea it would take this long to get to the point it is at today. It has truly been a labor of love requiring a lot of PATIENCE on my part. Many times I wondered if God really wanted this ministry to go forward. I questioned myself as to whether this was really what He was calling me to do. Persistence requires patience and endurance when you feel like giving up. But now that I look back I can see how God was there holding my hand and reaffirming me that this work would someday pay off for what it was meant to be. I had to learn to stop looking to others to validate this ministry that God had called me to do. I learned by seeking God in my prayer closet that the Holy Spirit was my greatest cheerleader because he was the ONE who led me to do this ministry in the first place. It's really all about HIM anyway. To Him I give all the glory, praise and honor.
Through patience I learned it doesn't have to be a big ministry, helping one person makes it all worth it. A friend of mine recently told me how she had been blessed by this ministry. I had no idea. It has truly helped me to know it can and will help others but it is not the driving force by which I will measure my calling, not anymore. Without a doubt when we hope for something not seen it motivates us to persist in hoping in the Lord who gives us dreams in the first place. It is a work that requires stepping out in faith even though it starts out as a tiny seed thought. But I could see through eyes of faith what the Lord wanted me to do with Hope Devotions. I am truly happy that his Holy Spirit guided me and helped me to cultivate patience, a delectable fruit of the Holy Spirit in my opinion. It leaves such a sweet taste in my mouth.
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