Scripture for the Day Dec 16th 2020: Strength by Patience

MAGA chat and even posts have seen much negativity and discouragement lately as the 'news' does not seem to go our way. I expect such antagonism against God from the media, but here on Trump Chat, should we not all band together to raise righteousness above corruption, and to restore the constitutional Republic? Instead, fatigued patriots despair. They look for any bit of good news they can catch just to regain a glimmer of hope. But don't you know there is only One Hope? Jesus. Don't you know there is only One Source of Good News? The Gospel. Do you not know to wait for the LORD? The Holy Spirit put this verse in the Bible for times such as this. But are you listening?

Psalm 27:14 (NASB)

14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

A Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NASB)

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Our thorn is often our impatience, which is a lack of faith. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" This Jesus asked his disciples. And the Lord will ask YOU the same question when MAGA finally declares victory! God delays this victory for one reason: so that the entire world will give glory to God, when the humanly impossible has been achieved by the LORD, when Donald Trump will start his second term as President of the United States of America. And as a bonus, those that rose to haughty heights will fall until they hit the ground far below; when the honor they never earned is stripped from them; when the righteous lay bare their treason; when we hold their henchmen responsible. You have a choice:  

Walk on Water or Drown

When Peter looked at Jesus, he walked on water. When he looked at the winds, he drowned. Still, when he called on the name of Jesus, the Lord saved him.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NASB)

22 Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, ]battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28 Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if ]it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”

Why then are YOU only looking at the ever raging and changing wind conjured up by the enemy, the news? It is spiritual suicide! Tell me, no, tell Jesus again, why do you want to drown? 

Let's bow our hearts and pray as in Galatians 5:

Lord, that we may follow the Spirit, we pray and declare as Paul did:

1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 
3 And I testify again to every man who has himself circumcised, that he is obligated to keep the whole Law. 
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace. 
5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 
10 I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. 
11 But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 
12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even emasculate themselves.

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 
20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 
21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. 
26 Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Lord, remind me, what is the fruit of the Spirit (one fruit, singular)? 

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL.

In Jesus' name
Amen

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #StrengthThroughPatience #FakeNews #Faith