My sweet friend Jaime was a huge encouragement to me again yesterday. She brought to mind for me a verse that I have known nearly all my life, but that seemed to come alive all over again.
Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in afflication, faithful in prayer.” Wow. Such a jumping board for anything that comes into my life. Such a resting place when it all seems overwhelming. Such a starting place for all things good in every relationship in my life. Hope, endurance and prayer. If I see life through this filter, it will bring a good perspective to everything I say and do and experience. It pretty much takes anxiety and fear out of the mix. And that sounds really, really good to me.
I love the passages that surround this verse. It speaks of love, devotion, honor, spiritual fervor, hospitality, blessing others, sympathy, harmony, humility and peace. All things necessary for a healthy relationship with God and others. If we follow the three – joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer – I have a feeling our lives will be changed from the inside out. Doesn’t that sound good????
Love and hugs, (and thanks, Jaime!)
me
