Hebrews 10:36 – For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

According to this verse three things are to happen in our lives. 1) We are to have patience, 2) we are to do the will of God, and 3) we are to receive the promise.

Everyone needs patience: but no one wants to pray for patience.  They use the Scripture of James 1:1-2, as a reason to not pray for patience or have patience, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” .  No one wants to go through trials and tests so they don’t want to pray for patience.  However, there can be no testimonies in our lives if there are no tests!  Our patience is to be based on the Word of God and having faith in God’s promise to deliver us.  Without patience we become anxious and fearful.  We cannot be in fear and faith at the same time, and the choice is ours, no one else’s.  Patience is strength of character.  Character is how we respond to situations.

So when checking up on our character we need to ask ourselves: 1) am I thinking right and in line with the Word of God; 2) what ethical principles do I live by – the world’s way of doing things or God’s Way of doing things; and 3) does my life show the distinctive quality of God’s holiness?

The basis of our patience is actually our faith in God. Let’s not throw away that confidence in our God.  (Hebrews 10:35)   Patience is a strong spiritual truth.  Patience is a positive spiritual power and the flip side is that impatience is a negative spiritual power.  It’s our patience in believing the Word of God that brings the manifestations of His promises into our lives.

Everyone has a will: whether we are strong-willed or weak-willed, whether for good or for evil; we have a will.  The will of God is for us to live by faith! The only way we can live by faith is to know the Word of God; for faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.  (Romans 10:17)  A born again Christian is to be strong in their will to live a good and pleasing life for God and the only way we can do that is to live by faith.  The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that He is a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him.  God rewards us with His promises, but whether or not His promises are evident in our lives depends upon our decision to believe His Word and live by His Word.

We are to receive His promise(s): and God’s first promise we are to receive is His Son Jesus.  Jesus came – from Heaven to earth – to make possible for us to receive the blessings of God.  Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me”.  Acts 4:12 teaches us that there is salvation in no other than Jesus.  Also First Timothy 2:5 puts it this way: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”.  In order to receive other blessings from God we must begin at the beginning and receive His Son Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Then other blessings will open up for us to; such peace of mind, healing for our body, and to live in prosperity rather than in poverty.  As with all things in life, there are conditions.  We get paid by our employer when we work. We have a healthier and stronger body when we exercise and eat properly.  We have good relationships with family and friends when we treat others well and are kind.

So it is with receiving the blessings of God; there are conditions.    Oh, yes, I know that God does heal and even prospers an unbeliever – to a certain extent – but if a person continues to live outside the provisions of God’s instruction Book, the Bible, then sooner or later the consequences of disobedience will overtake the blessings.  It’s a spiritual principle: we reap what we sow, for God is not mocked, for whatsoever we sow, that shall we also reap.  (Galatians 6:7)  We learn from Second Corinthians 1:20 that the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  God wants us to prosper, in our spirit, body, and soul. (3 John, verse 2)

We need to remember that God IS NOT mad at us:

1. He provided healing for our bodies by the stripes on Jesus back.  (Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24)
2. He provided sound and clear thinking for our minds by the crown of thrones on Jesus head.  (2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:4-8)
3. He provided the new life for our spirit by the death and resurrection of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary.  (2 Corinthians 5:17,  Romans 6:4)
4. He provided prosperity for our living in this life by the principles of sowing and reaping.  (Galatians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6)

Each day by our decisions to submit our will to God’s will and by our obedience to walk according to His Word; by being patient to learn His Word and speak it out concerning our lives; then each day we can live in the fulfillment of His promises in our lives.  The decisions are ours; so let’s make good and righteous decisions.