Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” KJV

New American Standard Bible – Updated & NJKV – “… run with endurance…”

It is another beautiful morning here in North Texas. It is 48 degrees with 98% relative humidity and an 8 mph NE wind.  What a wonderful day to be alive and in the Lord!  The stillness reminds me of growing up on a farm in East Texas and running my fishing lines at daybreak. The presence of the Lord is remarkable, the coffee is good, and my Bible is delightful this morning. God asked me the question at the top regarding – – PATIENCE!

I love this passage.  There is so much there that it would take far too long to discuss, but the beginning of it reminds us that we are not the first and will not be the last to make it through. They made it, and we can make it the same way they did – – through His Precious Blood and Saving Grace!

It reminds us that we have responsibilities in this process and cannot just sit back and say well, I am saved, so now it is all up to the Lord! It is, and it is not. We must never forget that we cannot save ourselves and that He holds us accountable for what we do with the knowledge we have in and of Him.

We are to prepare our lives like an athlete preparing for a race, getting rid of every encumbrance in our lives as we become aware of them. We do that with His grace and through discipline. Then, we run the race with patience or endurance! True, but do not miss the next part… ” Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” It is always with the focus on Him that we can endure and have the patience to keep going!

Roadblocks and obstacles will come, and sometimes there seems to be a new one every day, but He is our foundation, strength, source, and hope! We have a heaven full of witnesses cheering us on, and that thought should encourage us to keep pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus!

Patience in so many areas is not my strong suit.  Patience in Him is something that has been developed and is being developed daily. I am a “want things done now” person but will be patient with others learning how to do something. On the freeway, I am impatient when people skylark.  They create a condition that increases the accident risk.  It would have been better to drive on by and not cause the bottleneck.

I confess I have to repent too much on the highway!  I am often impatient with myself when I do something or fail to do something that I know to do or know how to do. My patience with me is far less than it is with others, which is why He keeps reminding me that I do not have it (really) but need it, and it is being developed in my life!  As I realize that He is my patience and I keep my focus on Him, I learn patience and that patience helps anchor faith in my heart and courage for the journey.

If you pray for patience and an all-out attack comes your way, do not complain; you asked for it.  Patience is not learned in situations where you do not need it. But learning patience under the shelter of His arms is a wonderful place to learn it. Hearing His gentle, peaceful, quiet voice enables you to move from grace to grace, beholding His face. He will see you through! I have learned that the more I am conscious of trusting Him, the more I can exhibit patience. The more I see Him, the more patient I am. The more dependent upon Him I am, the less impatient I become.

So today, put your hand in His hand, look into His loving face, and relax – It is going to be okay in the end! 

May you have a blessed day today in the Lord!