Persistence... Patience...

Persistently patient?
Patiently persistent?



Each Thursday my department, the Reach Ministries, has a staff meeting. At these meetings we often receive a "Word of the Week" by drawing out of a bag filled with many words (definitions included)! This past Thursday's staff meeting, my word was Persistence: never-ceasing; relentless. I was encouraged and also challenged by the word to remain persistent in every aspect of my life. Awesome, right?! The strip of paper was, as does everyone in the office, taped to my computer monitor for further reflection... However, its easy to "know" the tiny piece of paper is right above my nose and yet continually skim over it countless times a day, ignoring any opportunity for true reflection. 

That same night I went home and caught the tail end of a Panda Express Chinese dinner with my host family. I came at Fortune Cookie time! My fortune was: "Patience will benefit you." Seriously, that's it? What kind of fortune is that?! Not the typical, "In 3 days you will receive great happiness.", ya know the usual cheap fortune cookie fortunes! Needless to say, the strip of fortune paper received the same demise as most, the trash can! Regardless, of where that little strip of fortune cookie paper went, the words had left a lasting imprint in my mind.


Understanding just how involved God is in my life, I felt that these two words were more than a coincidence and deserving of to use to look at my life and the mediation of my heart with...


It did not take long before God showed me that in the area of my prayers I need more persistence. That even though I pray daily, my determination to seek the outcomes of my prayers has been well, rather pathetic! I am reminded of "The Parable of the Persistent Widow" in Luke 18:1-8, she sought out the judge over and over until he granted her request, until he was so bothered by her that he answered her plea. Christ tells this parable to narrate how we need to pray, with great fervor and dedication in prayer to God. Through that heartfelt expression of relentlessly pursuing Him, we will then see answered prayers and His will fulfilled in our lives. Prayer is our one one one communication with God, the creator of the Heavens and Earth, the King of kings! We, pathetic and sinful humans, are able to pray through the Holy Spirit and approach, come to, lean on, be near to, request of our Almighty God with thanksgiving, bringing any issue, problem, concern and or plea we have or will ever have to Him. But why does it often seem hard, time consuming or even just easy to forget to communicate with God? This weekend a friend posted this on Facebook: "Satan doesn't care if you go to church, he doesn't get worked up if you attend weekly Bible studies, Satan could care less if you go to a worship service and sing. But what does scare Satan is when you get down on your knees and pray in Jesus' mighty Name" ... The Power of persistent Prayer! 


As many of you know, after this internship in Las Vegas is complete I will finally graduate on December 10th!!! Hurray!!! That date is about 4 solid months away, closer than it has ever been but yet still far away... However, my mind has, more than ever, been considering my "next steps" and evaluating many possible career choices. I promise I have never, ever, ever wanted more than right now to be thinking and dwelling on the present and my current situation, rather than pondering the future! The past few weeks I have been blessed to have received great counsel from many wise and insightful individuals, through which the option of ministry as a full time career has officially made its way on to the table for discussion. Here is where patience enters the scene! I have prayed, I have researched, I have talked with friends and family members, I have ran through the ministry opportunities over and over in my head... "A bit anxious you ask? Well yes!" Patience is a virtue that I am attempting to harness in this situation!  


In addition, the two words coexist very well! Am I persistent in being patient? Or patient with the outcome of my persistence? Think hard about those for a while! 

At the end of the day, I know that God is BIG, God is here, God is moving and I pray (persistently with great patience) that my future may be according His will and not mine!


Thanks for being on this journey with me. I pray that the words and thoughts I share may be encouraging and challenging to you on your walk, as they have been to me! As a friend or family member I pray this fellowship helps to draw us all closer to Christ!




In Him and with LOVE,
Cariann  xoxo