The way we continue to follow God is by “keep[ing] [our] spiritual fervor.” The meaning of fervor is to have intense and passionate feeling about something. When we are fueled to serve the Lord we can assure we will never burn out in the waiting or striving. God’s plans for us will not come without testing our faith. Although He can lighten the burden that this world places on us, we are only as strong as our fervor is for Him. When we are weak we are made strong (see 2 Corinthians 12:10). This is why we can be joyful and have hope in the patience of our waiting. God coming through for us is a certainty. He will provide throughout the strength of our faith. Until such time His plans come to full fruition and provision turns into abundance.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:11-12 NIV
We are never diminished in the waiting. In fact, we are given the appropriate time to prepare in the waiting. We may not know entirely what we are preparing for, but we can trust that God knows and that we will know what to do when the time comes. This is because, “God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (See Matthew 6:34) This is why our hope for the things unseen is the strength of our faith. In this hope we show God where our trust lies. When we hope for what we do not see we can find patience in our waiting. God will fortify us in this time because of our trust in Him. It is our trust that makes us obedient. It is in our obedience that He wants to give us abundance.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24-25 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Do you have spiritual fervor? Write down what fervor looks like in your life and how you might develop that feeling in your relationship with God.
- Are you in a waiting season? Write down what it has felt like and see if you can invite patience into your waiting through your obedience of God.
A Story of Certainty:
The more I draw closer to God the more I feel certain about all the things in my life. It is the most unexplainable reality. I can remember times when all I did was worry and fear. Now, those feelings may arise, but they disappear just as quickly as they come up.
I have seen God provide for me time and time again. He has certainly shown off in my life. I have countless stories of how He provided for me and my family. Through our faith He has not only provided for us, but created wealth in our lives I did not think was possible. Wealth that does not hold money on a pedestal. Rather wealth that gives us freedom, because we know nothing belongs to us.
Through our certainty of trusting in God we are granted daily freedom. Freedom from how the world could distract us or hold us back. I feel encouraged everyday because I know He has the plan and I do not have to be overwhelmed by creating one. I am grateful He is in control of my life. A certainty like this is the greatest gift.
- Anonymous
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