It’s a nice rainy day here. Not too hot, a little muggy, but over all not too bad. Life here is strange thing, you know? There are so many things I wish I could change, about me, about the world, about the people I know. There is so much about myself that I wish God would work a sudden and miraculous change in. But alas, change is like growth, and it hurts sometimes. I mentioned my lack of patience to a friend and he told me this: “When the Holy Spirit moves in at the time of the New Birth He brings with Him the fruit of the Spirit to draw on as we need it. Think of it that way the fruit of the Spirit, Love Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control are all ours without measure to draw on as we need it. So when things get tough take a second to speak to the Holy Spirit and Draw on the fruit of the Spirit. You already have everything that you need inside you.”
This has been an incredible encouragement to me when I’m ready to throw in the towel and I’m sick of failing. It’s not me working any sort of change (b/c I’ll always fail miserably), it’s the Holy Spirit. God is the one who gives us everything we need (Matt. 6) and ”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all with out finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to follow Christ. It’s not my righteousness (or lack thereof) but Christ’s freely given that the Father sees. I still not comprehend why this is, but our God truly is an awesome God. Now if only this would work it’s way into permanence in my heart…
2 Pet 1:3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by {and} to His own glory and excellence (virtue)