Verse: "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Hebrews 10:36 NASB
NIV- "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
KJV - "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
'God is our refuge, and God is our strength. An ever present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed. And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.' Those words of an old worship song still ring true today... God is our refuge and strength in time of trouble... yet He is always there in good times and bad times. When everything around us starts fading, sinking or disappearing... God will always be there. God never changes, He will remain the same yesterday, today and forever.
Patsy Clairmont once said, "If you are walking toward Jesus to the best of your ability, He will see you through life's unpredictable waters -- but you must risk launching the boat." So many times we say we are trusting God, we are walking with God and we expect God to perform like a trained dog who does tricks when we want Him to... yet we don't do our part to fulfill that blessing. We cannot get through rough waters and storms of life, if our boat is still tied to the dock -- We cannot walk on water without getting out of the boat. There's another comment made that 'Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel'. We all have to do our part as well. Start digging... start walking ... just get that boat moving. :) We need to remember that God promises to be with us in the waters. "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." (Isaiah 43:1-2)
God promises to always stand by us. He is always there for us, He will never leave us nor forsake us. But we need to also stand firm with Him. Mary Morrison Suggs once said, "He is within and without. His Spirit dwells within me. His armour protects me. He goes before me and is behind me." We need to remember to DAILY put on the spiritual armour of God, just as we would physical armour in a real-life battle. The world around us is filled with evil, and the devil is prowling around, seeing who he can devour. If we are covered by the blood, and with our armour there is little that he can do, but GREAT things that God can do in, for and through us as well!
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 -- Here is the MESSAGE TRANSLATION, "And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out." One way in which this translation fails us as believers is that it does not tell us which part of the armour it is, nor that we have to wear it as armour. So, in another translation, here's the parts of the armour and what they do. (Eph 6:13-18 NIV) "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Everyday, we need to pray (and I know sometimes in my busyness I forget too, and I can't anymore) and put this armour on. Even sometimes throughout the day, when you may feel like you've been hit lots, put on a fresh suit. :) By the power of the blood of Jesus, and the strength of God through use of the armour He has given, and through prayer to the Father through Jesus nothing shall be impossible to Him that believes. Get out there and seize the day! Carpe Diem!
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!
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