Scripture
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10, 14
Reflection
Think of our lives as we would a sport. We are the players and God is the coach, referee, judge, team owner, official, all wrapped up into one. In track and field we must wait until our event is called, then wait until our heat is called, and we must have the best times from previous races to have the best heat and the best lane in today’s races—then we must run the smartest, strongest, and fastest if we are to ultimately win and reign as champion.
But this requires patience.
We can’t fixate on how well we ran in the past— how many 1st place medals we have accumulated. We can’t be upset and quick to yell and argue with officials, coaches or other runners—we must run our race and be present in today. If you curse at your coach your punishment is either you’re forced to sit out a meet or kicked off the team. If you curse at an official, you risk being restricted from competing in that meet, possible suspension from future meets, and other punishments.
Football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and hockey players have to patiently wait on the bench before they are called into a game. They must work hard in practice and then prove their worth in a game in order to gain acceptance and confidence in their coach that they are a star athlete and team player. You can’t be concerned and overly focused on the game that you made a grand slam, triple double or scored four goals or touchdowns; that is the past and your focus should be on now and what you can and will attempt to do in the future. You get no where going off on refs, umpires, or coaches—except forced on the bench or ejected from the game.
This is how our life is in actuality. Either you work smart and hard, listening to and obeying God, and learning from your lessons so that you can shine as His superstar, or you find yourself on the bench just waiting and hoping for an opportunity to participate and one day succeed. It’s your choice!
Prayer
Father, I pray for patience. The patience to endure the trials and tribulations in my life; the patience to endure those times when I have more month than money; those times when bills are waiting to be paid but my income isn’t responding to this demand. Help me to always praise You and reflect You during these times. That’s the foundation of my testimonies.
Father, I pray for patience, during those times when human sapsuckers knowingly or unknowingly work to drain the spark of positivity out of me. When they have a sense of expectation from me that they aren’t willing to reciprocate. Show me how to lovingly close off doors within myself so that I can protect Your investments. Show me how to wisely spend my days so that they aren’t wasted. Show me how not to be the victim but instead be the demonstrator of Your truth, light, and love.
Lord I ask for the patience to see the light shine through the doors, windows, and cabinets that You are opening for me. There are times when it gets extremely tough and I don’t know what to do, and my fear kicks in and the last thought I have is relying on You. Father, I want You to be my first and last thought, as well as the all-consuming thoughts in between that hold me down and keep me focused, and patient, as my blessings arrive.
I thank You for showing me how to be patient, for holding my tongue when I want to verbally lash out at someone, and when I dwell on the past as though there has been and will be no better time in my life but then. I can’t focus on now, to be prepared for tomorrow, if I’m more interested in 10, 20, or 30 years ago.
I thank You for pointing me on the path of success in every aspect of my life. Not just professionally or in my personal relationships, but in every way that I live in honor of You.
I thank You for showing me how, with patience, I will be better prepared to have my baskets woven and ready for the fish and loaves of bread that You will supply to me, and the financial rewards that You will bless me with so that I can take care of myself, my family, and my community. But it is only in patience that I can receive these things, and I thank You Father for helping me to see this. In Your name I humbly pray. Amen.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2020. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com bbwn.blog
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