Scripture
Romans 8:24-27
For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with Gods will.
What is this scripture saying
What this scripture says to me is this: Do not pray to the Lord for what you already have. You would be surprised at what you already have before you only you just cannot or refuse to see it. I believe that you also need to be careful of what you pray to the for. Are you truly praying for your heart's desires? It is very easy to lie to yourself. Desires need to come from your heart, notfrom envy, greed, lust or any other misplaced notion of desire.If you truly search your heart for your heart's desires, I believe the Lord through the Holy Spirit will show you what you need to truly have happiness and contentment in your life. After all, isn't that what we all truly desire is to be happy and content?
Once you truly know your heart's desires and pray for that which you do not already have, the Lord hears you and will work on your behalf to bring these things about. You have to remember patience though. The Lord does have a plan. The Lord doesn't just hand everything to you. I believe that through the Holy Spirit, the Lord will guide you to what you need to do to achieve that which you need. I also believe that through this way, the Lord will guide people into your life to help teach you what you need to learn to get where you need to be as well. So, do not discount anyone who enters your life, but welcome them instead with love and joy in your heart. That is why we nee to have patience and always listen to the truths the Holy Spirit places in our hearts and souls. This always leads me back to another important scripture in my life:
Scripture
2Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
I have turned this scripture into a personal prayer, "Dear Lord, please direct my heart into your love and grant me your son Christ's perseverance." I use this prayer when I am starting to get discouraged. In this imperfect world that can easily happen. When I use this prayer, I find a peace come over me as I am once again reminded that the Lord is working on my behalf. I am also reminded that some things do take more time so I can have a true appreciation of those gifts the Lord is giving me. I always need to remember to give thanks where it truly needs to go, to God.
My story
I have had many struggles in my life. But none like the struggles placed in front of me in the last 2 years. In the last 2 years I was made to feel beat down and broken apart. I was even pushed to a point where I almost lost all my faith and hope. I am just so happy that the Lord did not lose faith and hope in me. When I look back with my heart and truly see the circumstances that led me to that point, I realized that my heart wasn't in the right place. I was married, had a wonderful family and had a great job that was finally leading me to financial security. I thought I was being a good Christian, but it wasn't really the truth. I was playing the part of a good christian I went to church on Sundays because that is what a good Cristian does. I helped with church related functions because that is what a good Christian does. I said nice, kind things to people even when I didn't really mean it because that is what a good christian does. Boy was I wrong. Never once in that time did I truly look into my heart with what I was doing. Never once in that time was I listening to what the Lord was trying to tell me through the Holy Spirit. I took credit for my successes. I was proud of what I had accomplished. I fell into the trap made of pride and the lies I kept telling myself. I forgot that everything I had was not because of me. They were gifts given to me by the Lord God Almighty and I failed to truly appreciate them. When you give a child that they fail to appreciate, what do you do? You take it away, right? that way they can learn to truly appreciate all the things they do have in their lives. I now see what happened. The Lord, my Father through circumstances, took away from me, His child the gifts I was failing to appreciate. What right do I have to be angry at a lesson in true humility to the Lord?
How things are now
With the lessons, I learned over that period of time, I now feel a happiness like I haven't felt in a long time. As the Lord picks up the broken pieces of me and builds me back up, I am finding my way back to a true contentment. I see the Lord slowly leading me to my real heart's desires and He is doing it in such a manner that I will always remember to have a true appreciation for those gifts. The ministry work I do all around me, is not done because that is what a good Christian does, it is done because that is what the good Lord calls me to do and I do it with joy in my heart. I am happy to share my blessings with those around me. The kindness I show to others isn't done because that is what I am "supposed to do." It is done because we are all children of God and no matter how misguided they are, they still deserve through you, God's love as well. I am reminded of a saying, " You don't have to like your family, but you will always love your family." The people around you deserve the same. We are all family through our Father, the Lord. I still do struggle with patience. That is one of my hardest lessons to learn and accept. When I do recognize impatience within myself, I just say the prayer I told you about earlier and I feel patience wash over me again and I remember that every little success the Lord grants me brings me closer to my heart's desires. That brings me hope.
I truly in my heart hope that this story touches your heart and helps you find your way back to the path you need to be walking. God loves you and so do I, just please don't be afraid to open your heart to this love and truly feel it also. God Bless You!
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