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Expectant Prayers ®

Jennifer Jo Weiss

L-O-N-G Suffering

I was watching a favored local call-in show, hosted by Pastor Westlake Sr. from Sheffield Assembly, last night.  People call in and ask him questions about the Bible and he answers them on the air.  I watch him every chance I get.  I just love the insight he brings and how quickly he can formulate an answer.  Just hearing him makes you encouraged because of his vast knowledge of the Word of God and the truth he illuminates.  This man also walks what he preaches.  Even more impressive than that, the Spirit of God is evident in Pastor Westlake and just being around him - you can feel the anointing!  Once, Zeke had some dental work done and was bleeding pretty badly on the way home.  We stopped at a gas station and there at the gas station was Pastor Westlake!  He was sitting in his car at the gas pump - so I didn't go up and bother him, but simply having him in the parking lot brought a sense of the presence of the Lord and peace.  We prayed and soon the bleeding stopped.
Wouldn't we all like to have such a walk with the Lord that our mere presence would exude His glory?

Anyway, during the show last night, He brought up a word that prompted my blog today.....

Longsuffering.  Even the word itself doesn't sound pleasant.   Long Suffering - why can't it just be short suffering?  Yet, God is known as "longsuffering" and merciful when it comes to our lives (Exodus 34:6, Romans 2:4); how can we be any different with our fellow man, our life situations,  or even ourselves?

Longsuffering is defined as "long and patient endurance".  It  is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  We have to live by the Spirit to walk by the Spirit!  Longsuffering IS God's nature and He wants it to be in our character. 

Many of us have "those" sort of people or situations in our lives that God uses as Spiritual SANDPAPER (as Pastor Westlake Sr. from Sheffield Assembly says).  We get tired of having to endure...especially for long periods of time.  He wants to use those experiences to help us (and probably others as well) grow and mature in His Spirit.  Like the effect of sandpaper onto wood, His desire is to see the rough spots in our lives smoothed out and polished!  (see James Chapter 1)

How do we respond to the sandpaper and exhibit long suffering?

Ephesians chapter 4 gives us some good insight:

- by walking in humility and meekness

- tolerating our situation (or person) through the love of God  (this doesn't mean overlooking sin however)  when we deal with sin issues, we are told in this same chapter to speak the truth in love

-by seeking to keep peace (not retaliation)

- be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving

- putting off our old way of responding so that we will be renewed in our spirit and mind

- put on the new self- created in the likeness of God- in righteousness and holiness of the truth

- you are 'allowed' to be angry, but do not let anger stay (do not sin through your anger).  The Word encourages us to quickly let the anger go (before the sun sets that day)

- don't react in any way that gives the devil opportunity or a foothold; don't do anything to taint your character - especially in a way that would discredit your ministry, calling, job, position - or bring dishonor to God (since you are His follower)  This goes for the public eye, or even if you're all by yourself!

- watch what you say.  Seek to speak words of life or edification, not slander or malice.  Bless those "sandpapers" and do not curse!

- Pray for those people or situations that are being used as the "sandpaper"


If we can train ourselves to apply God's Word to our lives when it comes to longsuffering; maybe we can learn quicker and grow in His Spirit rather than focus on being "rubbed the wrong way"!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..."
Galatians 5:22



Blessings friends!

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