quiet reminder

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

This morning as we sat down to do our quiet times, we did something a little different. Normally I stay in the bedroom with a paperback concordance and Nathan comes out to the living room so he can use the intenet concordance. Usually this arrangement works pretty well, except for the excited kitties who get to roam freely in and out of the bedroom...otherwise they drive Nathan crazy. But since we've put up the little tree in our room, I decided to stay in the living room too. It actually worked out nicely, and I enjoyed it much more. I'm used to being out there, but since we started getting up extra early (5am... or shortly there after), I've stayed in our room.

Anyway, today Nathan decided to use the paperback, which left me with the computer. I've never had the best of luck with the online concordance, but since I had the internet too, I was able to pull a friend's facebook page up and check out a verse she posted the other day. (yes facebook!)Romans 12:12 was the verse, and man did it hit home. Its one of those verses that you hear over and over and you tuck it away in the back of your mind, but when you really need it, you can't remember it. At least thats how it is for me.

"Be joyful in hope..." I've always had a hard time figuring out how to be joyful in certain situations. I think sometimes I don't remember that its not the situation that I'm supposed to be joyful about, but more that God is with me and getting me through whatever I'm dealing with. As we were sharing what we had learned this moring while getting ready, I told Nathan that I completely understand what being joyful in hope means. At least to me. I always have hope, its what keeps me going. And in that I am truly joyful. My hope is joyful.

"...be patient in affliction..." to be completely correct I looked up the meaning of affliction. It means ' a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity.' I recognize my suffereings are anything but great when I look around this world. But at times, they seem great compared to the other things in my life, and it is a time of suffering for me. Being patient is hard enough, but being patient while suffering? Thats a big task, especially if I expected an answer yesterday. I know thought, that God on my side, and with his unfailing mercy, I can be patient. Even if it comes and goes.

"be faithful in prayer." I've got that one down! When I am facing struggles, it seems my quiet times revolve around that subject. I often feel my thoughts are consumed with my desire, sturggle, or whatever it is on my heart and so I continually pray for that. Its so nice to be able to take my burden and give it up to God... over and over and over again.

During my quiet time Romans 12:12 also reminded me of another one of my favorite verses.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6

But both of these verses are so encouraging and remind me to keep it up. Keep being hopeful, keep praying and asking God for the desires of your heart, keep on being patient and don't worry, it will happen in God's time, and finally keep thanking Him for everything he has given you. We often forget too easily about the things that God has done in our past when we are faced with other stuggles. But if we constantly are thanking God, then we won't forget... oh how wise God's words are!

I'm so thankful that God used a friend to bring this verse back into the front of my memory... and she has no clue how God used her today. I think I'll thank her, I already thanked God. I hope God can use me and what I was reminded of today to bless someone else. I think for all of us, Romans 12:12 is such a great reminder and comand.

So don't forget... "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer."

as a side note... it frustrates me to no end when I can't get my paragraphs formated the way I like, so please excuse the missing lines between each paragraph... silly I know.