Romans 12:12

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

Romans 12 provides such clear instruction throughout on how a child of God should live.

In verse 12 we are told to “be joyful in hope” no matter what our circumstances are at any given time we can always be joyful and rejoice in the fact that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ and that He is coming to take us from this world one day to live with Him in heaven for all eternity.  We know from Romans 8:28 that all things will work out for our good when we love God and are called according to His purposes!

“Patient in affliction”  When we are going through trials and tribulations in life we need to be steadfast and consistent in our faith in God to bring us through.  He has promised in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave us or forsake us and we must take Him at His Word for God cannot lie.  Even though some trials in life may take years, we can rest assured that God has a plan for us, His timing is not our timing…..His is perfect.  What comfort there is in knowing that God has our life under control even when it may seem to us that it is spinning out of control at times!

“Faithful in prayer”  It is in prayer that the work is done and victories are won.  Prayer brings power in our lives and peace to our hearts.  We are not just talking to thin air when we pray, we are in the presence of the God of the universe, the Creator of all that exists.  When we come to Him in the name of Jesus Christ we have unlimited power through Him.  It truly is amazing to me the power that there is in prayer and yet sadly it is the last thing we turn to sometimes.  The older I get, the more I pray.  I have seen through my own life experiences that good things happen when I am in communication with God!  It is not that my prayers are always answered the way in which I want them answered, but they are always answered by God who loves me more than I could ever know and always does those things that are good for me!

Nehemiah 8:10 states that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  How very true this is for when we are the joyful Christians that we are called to be, the unsaved are drawn to that joy for there is a strength in that joy from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God!  This doesn’t imply that we are always happy.  Happiness is fleeting, depending upon our circumstances, joy however, is deep seated in us and gives us peace in whatever comes our way in life for we know that God is in control and that He loves us.

There is a feeling of great security in Christ that comes along with our joy in Him, there is a confidence in Him that cannot be shaken for we know in whom we have believed and are convinced that He will never abandon us His dearly loved children.

2 Timothy 1:12

“…I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”

Thank You Father God for all Your perfect care and keeping of me.  I can do nothing without You, You are my all in all.  Help me to always cling to You in life and to keep my focus on Christ, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Continue to remind me to count all thing joy as it's stated in James 1:2 when I'm feeling discouraged.   I love You  Father, Amen