EACF 40 Days of Prayer - January 25, 2020

EACF 40 Days of Prayer 2020
Day 25: Pray for Patient Endurance

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV

We live in an era where speed and instant gratification are the expectation. But growth is a process that takes time. We do not set the timing for how God works. So while we ask for things, we wait for God to deliver on His promises. Paul prays that we would be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. There is a lot here. The end result is endurance and patience with joy. We have joy while we wait! Huh? We HATE waiting, but God gives us joy while we are waiting and enduring, even through difficult circumstances.

How is this possible? God strengthens us. And if God is strengthening us, we should not be weak, we should not be petty, we should not be impatient, we should be strong enough to endure and moderate our expectations and stay in step with the Spirit. God has all power and glorious might to share with us as we need it. It takes power to wait. It requires might to wait with joy. It takes God's strength to fight the biggest battle we have - the battle with our own desires and our desire to take the reins from God and to try to lead our own lives (which would lead to our ruin). May God give us strength to follow. It is His goodness that teaches us this great virtue.

Pray as you fight the battle with your own will that God will bless you out of His good strength to give you joy to be patient! Pray for two others to experience this peace and joyful patience! Who's anxious? Who's enduring? Pray for them. Write down their names, and show them God's love by sending them a note! This is day 25 of praying for good.