Praise Is the Secret to Patience

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

--Hebrews 12:11 (AMP)

Right now, the Lord is taking me through a season of patient endurance.  He’s whispered so many things to my heart and I believe Him 100%, but He’s asking me to wait on Him.

Of course, my flesh wants to throw a fit.  I started thinking, why is God asking me to do something so hard?? He drops a bomb shell on me, then tells me to do nothing about it.

Then God said, “I didn’t tell you to do nothing.  I told you to be patient.”

Feeling a little silly for pitching a fit, I told God I’m sorry and just started worshiping Him, not to get anything, not to make Him move on my behalf—just worshiping Him for Him.

He’s so awesome, He gives me something anyway.  He told me so calmly, “Praise is the secret to patience.”

I’m beginning to see how right He is.  We often make the mistake of judging our worth and value by the circumstances we’re in.  But God doesn’t see it that way.  When He looks at us, He sees the Son He gave up for us.  God gave up the most valuable thing He has for us.  Do you think He will withhold anything else?  He just wants to have a relationship with us and show us how much He loves us. 

The Bible says to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).  It doesn’t say to rejoice in the state of your bank account or the kind of car you drive or anything else.  He tells us to rejoice in the Lord. Whether you’re on a mountain top, coasting on a plateau, or deep in a valley, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

We can rejoice in any situation, in any emotional condition, any time, & any place! As long as we have breath, we can praise the Lord.  I think this example in Acts 16 paints the perfect picture of what prayer and praise can do:

²⁵ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. ²⁶ Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! ²⁷ The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.³⁰ Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 

--Acts 16:25-31

I think this is so amazing.  You can get in a state of praise and worship that is so good, you come to a point where you really don’t care what happens in the natural.  You’re right where you need to be: arms lifted high and totally satisfied.

Even though the prison doors flew open and their chains fell off, Paul and Silas still stayed right where they were!  Even more astounding, the other prisoners did too! And the jailer and his family got saved to boot!

I’m convinced God will never lead me in harm’s way unless He’s already given me the victory for it.  That’s why we can always praise Him in every season.  Nothing is impossible with God.  There’s not a single problem in the world He can’t solve with His goodness and Grace.

Go ahead, you know you want to: let’s give a big Hallelujah to our Awesome King!!!