Maybe you do all of the work and your co-worker gets promoted. Maybe, you are living for Jesus but you don't feel like your prayers are getting answered. Maybe, you're getting sick & tired of living for Jesus because you don't see any results.
Can I illustrate something for you? I want you to go & get a cup and fill it with dirt. Then, go and plant a basil seed in the cup, water it and place it next to the window. Then, walk by the cup every single day and see if you see basil. Weeks may go by & you still may not see anything. Do you get mad at the plant and stop watering it? Do you take the cup and throw it away because you feel like the seed isn't producing?
Well, that is what most of you are doing with your life. You kick and scream at the cup, throw it down, smash it and you stop watering the seed that is in your heart. You stop reading the bible, you start watching more garbage TV, you start hangin' out with that man because you're bored, you start hanging with rebellious, messy women and you open back up that pornography. I mean, a little won't hurt, right? You never give the GOOD seeds that are planted in your heart TIME to grow.
I'm reminded of:
Psalm 1
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
So, are you like that tree thats planted by the rivers of water, or do you uproot your seed every few minutes? Some of us refuse to be patient while jumping from one thing to the next! And we must ask ourselves another question.
Is my motive for being celibate to "get me a husband" or is it because I want to truly honor God with my entire life, be holy as He is holy & truly live for Him?
Is my motive for working hard getting promoted so I can fill my void of being an overachiever or do I work as though I am working onto the Lord? Longing for Him to use you at your job as THAT is the current ministry He has given you!
Is my motive for being submitted to my husband getting him to do what I really want him to do? So, I will cook-- as long as you perform my love language. I will tell you that you look nice because I want you to touch me. I will perform your love language ONLY because I want you to do mine, NOT because my LOVE for you is unconditional. Matter of fact, I am bitter and mad when you don't do what I want you to do for me.
Is my motive for living for Jesus because I want His hand & not His heart? I want what I think God can do for me. So, I will obey bits & pieces of what God tells me to do & choose Him like I'm selecting items off of a menu. You see, I don't really want to die to myself for real, I just want the "good life."
Ask yourself, do you really love Jesus and want to live for Him or is this life about you & your selfish ways? And maybe, just maybe, God closes certain doors because you continue to bust through doors that you aren't supposed to go through and He would rather you be UNCOMFORTABLE for a season that uncomfortable for a LIFETIME.
It's time for us to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them onto Christ.. but for real. And then make a DAILY decision that we are going to stay in this place of true, authentic, unconditional love.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us: that love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
So, are you losing faith in God's timing? Are you patient with others as you want God to be patient with you? Constantly complaining about everything you think God is not doing in your life? Are you kicking your plant around because it hasn't sprouted? Have you given it time to even grow..
Lets focus on what God IS doing in your life.
1. He saved you.
The end.
Source: Heather Lindsey
