The Life Hack Called Patience by Amber

What does it take to maintain growth?

Not just an isolated experience or just a touch of God.

No, but to truly draw near to Him–to acknowledge Him in all my ways, to allow Him to be the Lord of my days.

Our human experience is often dictated by so many temporary things.

It’s hard to even fathom the infinite, the unending, the continual. So often when we come upon a heavenly treasure, we don’t retain it.

Sure.

It may have touched us, maybe it will even be a highlight for the rest of our life. But far, far too often, we don’t go on to know the Lord’s will in it.

There can be many reasons for this (distractions, the cares of this life, etc). One I’ve been seeing lately is a need for patience.

As it says in Hebrews “For ye have need of patience, that, after having done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”

I’ve been contemplating running the race set before me. I have seen the importance of spiritual momentum: the need to keep running and not stop.

Just as you feed a fire and it grows. The moment you stop feeding it, it begins to die. Even if it puts off heat for a time, it is only consuming the last of its fuel as it dies.

There is no middle ground.

There is no plateau when walking with the Spirit of God, either. You are either increasing as you feed your spirit life, or you are decreasing.

And yet this is a hard one for your mind to comprehend. Again, our mind asks “How?? How can we run continually? How can we succeed in never stopping?”

It seems tiring. I was reminded of that verse “lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds”. I looked it up to remember the rest of it.

Funny enough, there in the same chapter of Hebrews it also talks of setting aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, running with patience the race that is set before us.

I wondered if I knew what the word really meant. At first, I thought it seems similar to waiting without becoming impatient, but I looked it up and the definition surprised me.

• “Bearing pain or trials calmly and without complaint”
• “Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain”
• And especially: “steadfast, despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity”

In other words, it’s much more active than just waiting.

It’s being able to endure, it’s steadfast, it’s unshaken.

It’s powerful, something I believe we all need to have in our spirits to carry us through the obstacles and adversities we face.

I read on and the next verse said: 

“...Looking unto God, the Author and Finisher of your faith”. 

The next key.

We can have that patience if we keep our eyes on our Father, the One that is able to deliver us and present us faultless.

“He that began a good work in you will bring it to completion”.

So we have a need of patience, that we can receive that seed that falls on an honest and good heart, and having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

“And let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing”.

The Best Part of Obedience

What are you needing today? What do you desire? Do you feel stuck?

When I get in a bind–or even when I’m floundering and looking for the next step–I have to go back to Him.

Remember Jesus’ miracle at the wedding feast? It was one of the first miracles Jesus ever did.

They had run out of wine at the wedding. Apparently that was a big deal in the Jewish culture.

Freaking out, they turned to Mary and asked: “what do we do?”

Mary said: “whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it”.

There’s so much power in that! So much clarity.

So Jesus told them to fill some stone water vessels with water. When that was done, Jesus instructed the servants to draw some of the water they had just put in.

Then Jesus instructed them to bring it to the master of the feast.

On the way, it turned into incredible wine!

Over and over again, you see this in the Bible. Seeking God–choosing “Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it”--has powerful results.

God doesn’t always usually speak in an audible voice. Often, it’s a still, small Voice, or an inner “knowing”--when you get alone with the Lord, you know.

Someone described it as having a “green light” in your spirit. Some people might describe it as having a “gut feeling”.

I heard once about a man who invested in the stock market back in the old days.

Whenever he would get a hot tip, he would get alone in his closet.

He would always look for that inner urging, that inclination.

When he finally connected to it, he would follow it.

That man made bank doing that.

The more we seek God’s voice and seek to be led by Him, the more God has access in our life.

Also, the more we grow accustomed to recognizing God’s voice.

In Genesis 5:24, it says: “and Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him”.

He walked with God.

I have no idea who Enoch was, but that simple description of his life always stirred me: “...walked with God…”

Didn’t say he “knew of God” or “knew about God” but that he “walked with God”.

I’d love to have those words in my obituary some day:

“He walked with God”.

This practice of seeking God and following Him is a big part of the reality of that idea.

Mom was learning this for the first time a few years ago. She had misplaced presents for my youngest brother. She sought the Lord, and the Lord gave her a clear vision of them being in her bedroom closet.

She went up there, and there they were!

Obedience works.

Recently, I was writing something. I had a deadline, but people kept wanting to talk to me on the phone.

Late at night, I was still needing to write, but the words weren’t coming clearly. I could tell they weren’t fully anointed. But I had a deadline.

But I felt strongly God wanted me to call a friend in need. Finally, although it didn’t make sense to my not-so beautiful mind, I obeyed that inner urge.

After talking to my friend for an hour, I returned to write.

Suddenly, clarity in my writing appeared. I could feel the Spirit of the Lord giving me the words.

I rewrote it from the beginning. When I was done, I was surprised and excited! What had just happened?!

Obedience works.

Another time, God was dealing with me about going deeper in my life, to find real care and real connection. I wondered: “how can I go that deep?” I felt stuck and agitated.

A friend needed a hand. I didn’t want to help, but I felt God provoking me to respond.

So I laid down my life and offered to help.

By the time I was done, clarity and freedom were there, my eyes were refocused on God, and I had something I didn’t have before. So much lightness.

Obedience works.

Last week, I was stressing about something.

I knew I was needing to connect to the Lord again in my heart, but I didn’t feel like it. I felt like I was lacking some key vitamins in my spirit.

So again I practiced walking with God.

“In Phillipans, You say: ‘My God shall supply all your needs,’ “ I told God. “You promised. I feel weary and drained right now. You tell me what to do, and I’ll add my faith to it. You’re working beyond what I know. I know You’ll refill my cup.“

God did.

God spoke something to me when I was a teenager: “Seeking Me is always worth it”.

Seemed like such a overly simply statement, but it resonated with me.

The benefit of seeking God in every moment is you have testimonies of encountering the real God–and those testimonies become memories, and those memories become our life.

Having a life full of memories of encounters with God has eternal value! That’s something you can take with you.

I’m very blessed to have a life full of things God has led me to.

That makes my personal items more than merely a truck or a place to live, but about what God has given me. Those items become eternal testimonies.

A friend had a vivid dream. In the dream, she was talking to Jesus, and telling Him about being overwhelmed by life. “How do I deal with everything?” she asked.

“Every day, I’ll put a path in front of you,” Jesus replied. “Follow the light I give you for the path that day. That’s it. That’s all you do. As you continue to do what I show you every day, you’ll see clearer and clearer. if you don’t follow it, the path will grow more dim.”

She remembered how comforting, how matter-of-fact Jesus spoke. There was no condemnation, no threat in His words, just direction.

What do you need today? Do you want to see miracles happen?

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God” Romans 8:14.

“Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it.”

Doing what He says opens up the door to a miraculous life.

Test it out!

Rivers in the Desolation by A.P.

The year was 2006.

The newlyweds, for that we still were even after nearly a year, had managed, with considerable help, to build a delightful small cabin.

We had installed power and yet still needed water.

Even with a good steady job, the process of drilling a well was far beyond our financial means.

How could we afford water? Was any driller willing to let us pay over time?

No.

We asked several drilling companies, and they all wanted the money up front.

Finally, on the recommendation of a friend, we talked to one more driller who had compassion on our situation.

He agreed to take payment and would begin to drill the following week.

Oh, the excitement as the huge machine showed up and the process began!

The noise was deafening and rattled me thoroughly in my tiny home.

The expectation, of course, was high that water would come gushing at any moment.

But that first day turned into six.

Our hope began to diminish as worry set in and questions rose up.

How far do you drill before conceding to a dry hole? How much can we afford?

The dollar signs were ever before us as day turned into another day...

We had picked up two gallons a minute over the time and began to consider settling for that. Perhaps putting in a cistern to store water to make it work for our needs.

When we approached the well driller on this option, his response was:

"Cisterns can have a lot of issues to deal with over the years and can be a real pain. I don't want that for you.

“I will drill for one more day, at my own expense, if we don't hit a viable amount of water by the end of the day we will look into other options."

We agreed.

That next day was intense for me, as I cried out to God to meet our need in any way He saw fit.

I opened my Bible, and the first thing my eyes saw were these words:

"The poor and needy seek for water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I the Lord will hear them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

“I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." Isaiah 41:17,18.

I wept as I bowed in surrender before the Lord, thanking Him for such comfort.

I rose to look out the window, and there coming from the pipe was a gusher that was mind blowing!!!

Could it be true??! Or was this just a malfunction of equipment?

No! He ran towards the house as I tore open the door to see if this could really be true!!

"Will 42 gallons a minute be enough for you?" He asked with a wide grin.

I burst into tears again and had to tell him the word God had just given me.

He was wiping his eyes too as we watched the water continuing to pour out of the ground.

Oh, the rejoicing!!

At 777', our well was deeper than Flathead Lake!!

It took weeks of running the water continuously to purge out all the sediment.

Then one day, it finally ran clear, which was another whole journey and learning experience.

And we had to put every penny into that payment each month for the next year--a sacrifice for sure that we were happy to make!!

Thank God for hearing and answering our cry and need! Thank God for people who have compassion!! 💕