15 Jan Romans 12:12 Patient in Affliction #210

Romans 12:12

Romans is one of my favorite books of the Bible. If you haven’t read Romans 4 or Romans 8, those are two of my favorite chapters and I encourage you to add them to one of your reading plans. But today I want to share from Romans 12 which is also a favorite. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

I love this verse so much! It’s actually on a huge print on our fireplace mantel! This verse is sandwiched by Romans 12:9-13, which gives powerful instructions from the Lord on how to live with others. Guess what the core of the instruction is? Love! It’s all based on the love of Jesus.

Back to the key verse I want to focus on today, verse 12. Romans 12:12 starts out by giving an instruction that we are to “rejoice in hope.” We don’t rejoice in our circumstances, we don’t rejoice based on how good or bad of a day we had, but we rejoice in hope. And hope always gives us a reason to rejoice because it’s based on heaven and the nature and character of God. If you take a step back, and just think about the eternal glory that’s waiting for you, are you then able to understand why you always have a reason to rejoice in hope?

Patient in affliction? Say what! The reality is every believer will face affliction. Whether you are deep in a trial or facing a delay at the airport, you are instructed to remain patient. And yes patience is possible to maintain while in the middle of any difficulty. Through the Holy Spirit, God has enabled you to display patience at all times. Difficult situations and difficult people do not excuse you from Romans 12:12. Are you choosing to live in patience?

And lastly, Romans 12:12 calls you to be faithful in prayer. I think so often we focus on maintaining faithfulness in other areas: complaining, jealousy, bitterness. But this part of the verse commands to remain faithful in prayer. Always pray! Everything you do should be surrounded by prayer. Don’t know what to pray? If you are at a time in your life where you are at a loss for words, give God praise for who he is and what he has done. Just say his name. There is so much power in whispering, “Jesus”.

The joy, hope, patience, faithfulness, and prayer? It’s all possible because of the love of Jesus! He didn’t give the command to see you fail. He gave it to you because it’s all possible; not by your own strength, but through the Holy Spirit.

PS. If you are going through infertility, please head over to join a faith-based support group I founded, Moms in the Making!

PPS. Have you picked up a copy of my book? Buy In Due Time, a 60-day devotional for hope + encouragement in the waiting.

PPPS. I created a group on facebook as an extension of my book + blog to discuss anything + everything. Women only! Come join us!

PPPPS. Did you see the giveaway I am hosting? You can enter here.

{Let’s Connect} Facebook • Instagram • Bloglovin • Pinterest • Google + • Twitter