If you are looking for a post on the actual "Beatitudes", they can be found in Matthew chapter 5. We will save that for another day. On this day, I was nudged by a verse from Romans:
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." -Romans 12:12
Be joyful in the hope we have in Jesus. Our hope is not only for this day, but for all of our tomorrows.
Be patient when trials and tribulation come. He never, ever leaves us alone.
Be in prayer constantly. Be praying at stoplights. Be praying when you load the washing machine and unload the dishwasher.
I am grateful God is not impressed by long and fancy prayers. Keep it simple and know he hears and understands your heart. The scriptures makes this very clear:
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get." -Matthew 6:5
I believe the Bible provides evidence our God is moved by our persistent attempts to seek His will, His face and His ways. It is not a level of prayer excellence to be achieved by practice and fancy words. Instead, it is praying with a heart that seeks to be in tune with the Father's heart. It is like finding and tuning in a radio station. You adjust the dial until the music or the message is clear and the static is gone.
Simple, constant prayers keep the lines of communication open. Be joyful. Be patient. Be constant.
Remember our God is the great "I AM". Remember the "be" verbs we conjugated in English? God says he is "Great I Am". We only need to BE in Him to find peace and rest.
Today, I am grateful for the "be" attitudes.
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