Daily Power #127

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. (Prov. 16:32 NLT)

So how do we move away from impatience? How do we overcome the cultural pull toward immediate gratification? How do we practice patience in ways that strengthen our faith?

We pursue God with all our hearts until his desires become our desires. Rather than craving what our peers crave, we learn about the things that matter to God’s heart, and we begin leading our hearts toward his. The Bible says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4 ESV).

As we seek God, his desires become ours. The Hebrew word translated as “delight” is the word anag. It carries with it the idea of being made soft or pliable. You could say that as we enjoy or delight in God, he shapes our hearts and desires to look like his. Then instead of desiring the immediate cravings of our fleshly nature, we learn to crave the kingdom desires of our God.

All of us want to make a difference in this world. And when we don’t have the immediate impact we desire, we often feel frustrated or discouraged, as if we’ve failed at being a Christian. But the truth is that God works in us even when we can’t see it—perhaps especially when we can’t see it!

Power Lift

Jesus, I want my desires to be your desires. Keep my heart soft and pliable so that I can be patient, compassionate, and loving as I serve those around me.