10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Rev 310Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
As we see events accelerating around us it is more important than ever to practice patience. How do you 'practice' patience? Being patient is a decision you make, it is a matter of your will. We tell ourselves "I will be patient." We command ourselves. Tied into our patience is giving thanks. This cannot be overemphasized.
The Lord does not handle grumblers and complainers well. Read what happened to the Israelites who came out of Eqypt then began complaining in the desert. It did not end up well for them. The purpose of this post is to encourage you to be patient, also remember to give thanks at all times for all things.
| ... And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus ... giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our ... |
We have no idea how much time we have left here before things turn upside down. The signs are all around us that the time might be close, but that is when it is the hardest to remain patient. We can sense that the race is almost finished and we would like to enter the ark and call the race finished, but we cannot. The Lord alone declares the end from the beginning and we must be obedient soldiers in His service.
We can encourage ourselves with the hope that the Lord will come for us soon. We can also be thankful while we wait with great patience. The trap set for people in these days has everything to do with time and patience. Why did the Lord counsel us directly about patience in this last days? He knows what we need and when we need it. The enemy plan is to send disinformation in order to excite the people into a false sense of expectation, then to dash their expectations against the rocks over and over and over again until they shake loose of what they have been holding onto (their faith). This includes all the satanic symbology on the 2012 olympics, the 2012 hype and everything else.
We must completely trash every signal sent out by the hands of men. Who cares what the enemy plans are? They can do what they are allowed to do and no more. They are being restrained:
2 Thess 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
Patience is not easy, I know. But patience is the very thing we have been commanded to and we must embrace it as part of our duty as soldiers under the Almighty's command.
The Lord could come back for us in the next hour, or we could be waiting for years. We must be prepared for either. Keep the faith.
Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
