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 & the NJKV renders it- “… run with endurance…”

What a wonderful day to be alive and in the Lord!  The stillness of the morning reminds me of growing up on a farm in East Texas and running my fishing lines at daybreak. The presence of the Lord is special, the coffee good and my Bible is delightful this morning. God asked me the question in my title regarding Patience!

I love this passage. There is so much in it that it would take far too long to discuss, but the beginning of it reminds us that we are not the first and won’t be the last that make it through. They made it and we can make it to the same way they did, Through His Precious Blood and Saving Grace! It should remind us that we have responsibilities in this process and can’t just sit back and say well I’m saved so now it’s all up to the Lord!  It is and it isn’t. We need to always remember 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 by His grace and through discipline. Then we run the race with patience or endurance! That is true, but don’t miss the next part “…looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”

It is always with the focus on Him that we are able to endure and have the patience to keep going! Roadblocks and obstacles will come and sometimes it seems that there is a new one every day, but He is our foundation, our strength, our source, and our hope! We have a heaven full of witnesses cheering us on and that very 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 and is being developed day by day. I am a “want things done now” person and will become impatient with others trying to learn how to do something.  On the freeway, I’m impatient when people skylark at something on the side of the road and thereby become a greater accident risk when it would have been better to just drive on by and not cause the bottleneck.  I repent a lot on the highway!

I’m impatient with me 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 and that’s why He keeps reminding me that I don’t 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 to anchor faith in my heart as well as courage for the journey.

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

Today, put your hand in His hand, look into His loving face and relax – IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY IN THE END!  

May you have a blessed day today in the Lord!