Study with Me - Chapter 20

Hi Everyone,

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 20 - Wilderness mentality # 5

Don't make me wait for anything I deserve everything right now!

I think we can read the title of this chapter and get an idea where this is going to go. We are living in a "instant" world these days. Everything is about convenience, 7-11, Circle K, Am-PM. It is just so much of our lives we have trouble seeing beyond it.

I have probably told this story before, but it is worth repeating. When our oldest Granddaughter was only 3 or 4 we had run into our daughter and son-in-law in a local store trying to do some Christmas shopping. Well they were struggling since our Granddaughter was with them and asked if I could entertain her for a few minutes while they purchased a couple of "Santa" gifts. So as we strolled through the store her and I talked about what she wanted for Christmas and what Santa would bring. To which she would ask "Grandma, won't you get me this or why can't I have that? My comment several times was "honey we have to wait Santa might be bringing that to you." Here was the topper to our conversation, she looked up at me with the most serious face a 3 year old could have with big wide eyes and stated - "No body believes me, I've got to have it now!" Well of course that has been a favorite saying for our whole family for 12 years now, but it has such a truth to it also.

God tells us we have been give self control as a fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

But as with any fruit, it is not mature once the little bud comes out on the tree. It has to be nurtured and watered and fed, before it is fully developed. So what does that tell us about our impatience. (Opps!)

Patience is something that has to be practiced and developed, just like any of the other gifts God gives us. Anything that is fed will grow. Giving in to ourselves is feeding that impatience in us. But learning to wait on and trust in the Lord, to endure, makes us stronger. It is part of the equipping us that is necessary for us to fight the battles that Satan will throw at us. Notice I said will not might. John 10:10 one of my favorite scriptures says: The thief (that is Satan) comes only to Steal (our peace our happiness , our joy our blessings our prosperity) Kill, (again our peace, but our souls our lives) and destroy (anything that God is doing to give us the better life here on earth and eternity in heaven). But I (God) have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

See God isn't trying to hold out on you. He like any good parent is trying to grow us up. If we don't train our children to tie their shoes and comb their hair and do their homework and eat properly, they will not be able to take care of themselves. It works the same with God.

I could ramble on, but hopefully you are getting the picture. We (yes me included) need to grow up and follow Gods instructions, in Gods timing not mine.

Father God, help us to develop our self control. Help us lean on you and not ourselves. In Jesus name.

Amen.

Until the next chapter - Blessings,

Lynn