"But Jesus was matter-of-fact: 'Yes - and if you embrace this kingdom life
and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree,
but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell,
"Go jump in the lake," and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from
small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as
you lay hold of God.'" (Matt 21:21-22
The Message)
The rest of our group were panning for gold using black plastic, ribbed gold
pans. I had a gold pan in my hand as well, and I was trying my best to do what
our tour guide, from Queenstown, New Zealand, was patiently trying to teach us
to do: separate the tiny gold flakes from the sand.
As he dug some dirt from the side of the smooth flowing river and put clumps of
it in each of our pans, he emphasized that patience was the most important
virtue when trying to find gold. I believed him, and I was trying my best. But
after sifting for more than fifteen minutes, I was beginning to doubt that even
one tiny flake of gold could be found in my pan. After all, I had hardly any
dirt left, and there certainly wasn't any glittering dots! Besides, there were
beautiful lupines across the river just calling out to be photographed! I put
down my gold pan with its remaining sand and started shooting pictures of the
beauty surrounding me instead.
Eventually I had all the pictures I needed, and to my surprise, the rest of my
group was still panning for gold! My wife encouraged me to keep trying, so to
please her, I picked up my thrown-away gold pan and sifted it a bit more.
Imagine my surprise when I found more flakes of gold in my pan than any of my
panning neighbours! My doubt and my impatience were keeping me from finding my
gold!
This is also true for those of us who want to attain victory over our addictive
obsessions. We have too much doubt and too little patience. This makes for a
deadly combination that will hinder us from seeing clearly. Too often we are
unaware that the gold (victory) is just around the counter.
There can be no victory with doubting. There can be no break-through with
impatience.
"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in
with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in
us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping
us alert for whatever God will do next." (Rom 5:3-4 The Message)
Lord, fill us with your Spirit and grant us the necessary faith and patience to
trust in you. Only then will we experience you fully in our life. Thank you Lord
for believing in me. I love you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Interestingly enough, once I found those gold flakes, I gave them away to the
birthday boy of our group. So did everyone else. Once we experience victory, we
can't help but encourage others to experience it as well!
Gold is within our reach! Are we willing to put our trust in the One leading us
to it?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.