JH PA FP

Odd title for this video huh. Lets figure it out.

So often times in these videos I find myself saying that it's easier said than done. But this time, I think what we have to talk about is pretty easy. For the most part. Well. Sometimes. Kind of?

In the book of Romans Paul gives some guidelines, some instruction on how to live a lifestyle that can be pleasing or holy. In Chapter 12 verse 12 he says:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. -Romans 12:12

To be joyful in hope to me seems like it's an easy task. We have a hope for the return of Christ and that is joyous thing to look forward to. We can hope for any number of things and at least I have found that when hoping for something that I want to happen, I am usually joyful about it. The timing may be another thing but to be joyful in hope seems like an easy thing to do.

Faithful in prayer, is another one. But wait, you skipped one. Yeah, I know I'll circle back to it. 1st Thessalonians tells us to ...

pray continually -1st Thessalonians 5:17

And I use to think this was impossible. But I learned that and have developed a habit of always talking to and with God. Walking down a hall at work and just to think about him. To remember him in the little things as well as the big. To be faithful in prayer, to me simply means to always be talking with him. Even if that's getting mad at him. At least you are telling him you concerns. Telling him how you feel. He loves the interaction with us so talk to him often. He will answer.

Okay. Patient in affliction. This is the tough one. So one of the definitions of the word patient is a sufferer or victim. And affliction is a state of pain, distress or grief. So to say you need to be a sufferer of pain, a victim of distress or grief. That's a hard pill to swallow. But I think the point here is that if we can stick it out the reward is so worth it. And lets be honest, anything we can go through here in the blink of an eye we call life is nothing compared to what he went through on the cross for each and everyone of us. And when we endure he will reward us on that day when he calls us home.

So be Joyful in hope. Be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. This will help you to Press on. Fight the good fight. As a Soldier for Christ.