http://www.eastgateministries.org/

Eastgate Ministries, PO Box 711, Camden, ME (2026)

10/18/2026

Sunday Tidbit: Created To Be Creative

Years ago, my life was in a slump. Nothing seemed to be happening. I felt as if everything I had hoped for and wanted to accomplish had vanished. Fighting discouragement was a daily battle. No matter what I did to comfort myself or find pleasure, the emptiness remained. Like a well with no bottom, nothing I did could fill it. I felt fruitless, a failure with no visible results that would echo the word “success.”

From the ditch of despair, I asked the Lord, “What is wrong? Please help me!” I spent more time trying to figure everything out than being productive. I was so focused on my feelings that I couldn't see past my nose. So, I cast my eyes upon the Lord and waited for an answer. A short time later, I began to experience a positive shift in my life.

It started when I began to write. I asked Jesus, the author of Scripture, to help me write. Thoughts began to come, and with them, inspiration, a life force that energized me. The spirit of creativity began to flow. Starting from a blank canvas, I wrote each short article to paint God’s faithfulness and power, and grace- in short, the face of Jesus. Years later, I began posting these testimonies weekly in our local newspaper, “Sunday Tidbit.” I have also published my first book, “God’s Design for Spiritual Marriage,” available on Amazon.com.

As sons and daughters of the Creator, we are called to be creative. God has given people gifts and talents. When people flow in their creative stream, life flows to them and through them, impacting the lives of others. God’s heart is for you to succeed and prosper through your creative gifting. When you have no outlet for the grace God has placed in you, it can leave a void in your life where fear and anxiety can lodge. Without tapping into your creativity, you lose sight of life’s purpose, which can lead to depression and even mental decline.

Having a passion with purpose is vital to a fulfilled life. As a former pilot, I loved to fly airplanes. I especially relished the sensation when the plane’s wheels left the ground, setting me free from the confines of the earth. As a Flight Instructor, I taught others to fly. That experience laid the foundation for training Christians how to use their gifts and talents. Nothing excites a Christian more than being used by the Lord, especially when they experience the life of the Spirit that is theirs in Christ Jesus. Today, serving others has become my passion.

The womb of our heart is where our desires originate. Scripture tells us that as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart (Proverbs 37:3). This is because they originate from His heart. These desires become our vision. As our vision becomes clear, so does our passion to see them come to fruition, the fruit that brings great joy. But when delayed, diminished, or destroyed, they can make our hearts sick. Proverbs 13:12 tells us,

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing that is fulfilled is like a tree of life.”

Recently, I spoke with a pastor friend. He shared that although he enjoyed pastoring a congregation, his heart longed for something else. He also shared that his vision is to establish a home for children, a place where they can be fed, clothed, and cared for. His passion for the homeless was heartfelt and sincere. His excitement told me this was truly of the Lord.
Creativity is not limited by age. Watch a child at play, and you will see creativity revealed. From the young to the old, everyone is called to create something of value. Retirement should not be a crisis in one’s life but an opportunity to engage in an activity that lets one's ordained creativity flow. There is life in creativity. Finding something that stirs your passion puts hope in your heart and a spring in your step, increases longevity, and promotes good mental health.

There will be times when nothing seems to be happening. This is often God’s design. During these times, we are to go deeper into His Word, rest in His presence, and be refreshed by His Spirit. As a result, we enter the next phase of life more impactful and productive.

To know what God has placed in your heart, ask yourself, “What brings you to life and ignites a spark in your eyes?” What excites you? What comes to mind? This is your vision. Write it out to clarify it, then take a step forward in faith (Habakkuk 2:2). As you do, you will see the Lord working with you to fulfill the desire He has already placed in you. He will accomplish what He has ordained.

In His heart with love, Roy Roden

10/04/2026

Sunday Tidbit: Led by Love

In 1976, the Father filled me to overflowing with His love (James 1:17). He also fulfilled the promise in Jeremiah 24:7: “A new heart will I give you that you may know Me.” We can be led by the Holy Spirit, but we can also be led by the Father’s love. When you are filled with His love and know His heart, you are empowered with understanding to fulfill His heart’s desire with purpose. God’s love empowers our faith to do great exploits in His name.

But what do we do with the Father’s gift of love? How do we walk in love? How do we love our enemies as our Father does and minister the truth in love? One day the Father spoke to me and said, “I will teach you.” As with all spiritual gifts, God's grace helps us learn, grow, and mature into what we have been given. And so, in 1976, the learning process began.

I was attending a ministry conference when I was given a “love” lesson. I stepped into the elevator and noticed the pastor’s wife was in it, too! Looking very troubled, she shared that she was going for a walk. Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming love for her. I stepped out of the elevator and quickly went to my room. Kneeling before God, weeping, I cried out, “Oh God, I am in love with the pastor’s wife!” Overwhelmed by shame, I repented.

That night, she shared with the audience that she had been dealing with an issue. But on her walk, God had ministered to her. Then it dawned on me. I wasn’t in love with the pastor’s wife; The love I felt for her in the elevator was the Father’s love. If I had shared this with her then, it would have ministered to her. Today, when I share His love with someone, they can feel His love for them: a love that says, “I care, I am here, I know what you are going through!”

When God’s love comes upon my heart, I know it’s for a specific purpose. Often, when I am teaching, praying, or talking to someone, His love comes upon my heart – so strong at times that I have to catch my breath. Tears flood my eyes as I share with others what the Father has placed on my heart for them. His love always reveals His heart for others. I have seen lives healed, restored, and transformed by the power of His love.

In the fear of the Lord, I seek to align with His heart to fulfill His purpose; I know the Holy Spirit moves in response to the Father's will, according to His heart, not our wisdom, doctrine, or understanding. Without His love, we are merely making noise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Even in the darkest places, the light of His love shines to illuminate our path. As we walk in love, a love for God and His purpose, He will reveal His heart to us. For example, in 2022, a pastor asked me to come to Pakistan to minister. “No way,” I said. This nation is not on my radar at all! I like my head right where it is - on my shoulders! Hearing stories of the persecution Christians face in Muslim countries – the torture, imprisonment, and being held for ransom did not really appeal to me. Out of a fear-based reaction, I declined the request.

Yet, out of curiosity, I researched Pakistani culture. I also watched videos and looked at pictures of the pastor’s ministry. To my surprise, hundreds of churches exist throughout the nation, worshipping freely and openly. A move of God is underway, with hundreds of people being led to Jesus and baptized almost daily.

Before long, my heavenly Father put His love for the Pakistani people and the Church leadership in my heart. Since then, I have been to Pakistan three times, each lasting 28 days. Secured by His love, I feel safe in His arms. I now plan to return in November 2026. Fully confident that God is with me, I am returning as an ambassador of His love. I have found that wherever His love leads me, He always provides for my finances with favor.

Our heavenly Father is motivated by love. Because of His love for the world, He sent His Son, Jesus, so that we may have eternal life. In doing so, He revealed His heart that none should perish but have eternal life. Jesus was also led by love. Out of His love for His heavenly Father, He did His will, even if it meant suffering. Christ displayed the greatest love ever revealed and ever will be on the cross at Calvary. His sacrificial love revealed His heart for mankind.

Friends, God has given you a heart. When you feel His love, peace, or joy, or when a scripture or an inspired thought comes to you, it may well be your heavenly Father speaking to you. Ask Him, “Is this meant for me or to be given away?” Perhaps this is for someone who needs His touch. You are His vessel to shine the light of His love and reveal the Father's heart. Let His love lead you, and you will find that love never fails.

In His heart with love: Roy Roden
Eastgate Ministries [email protected]

09/26/2026

Sunday Tidbit: The Healing Hand of Christ

When Jesus walked this earth, He healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed l***rs, and cast out demons; the blind received their sight, and the lame walked. But what touches my heart even more deeply is God’s grace in healing memories, heart, and soul. Jesus’ desire is to see every area of our lives prosper and be made whole (1 John 1:1). Here is an example:

A man full of leprosy desired to be healed by Jesus. In the eyes of society, l***rs were unclean and lived isolated from their family and loved ones. Unable to touch another person, they kept to themselves. The stench of their sickness followed them everywhere.

To reach Jesus, the l***r had to proclaim, "Unclean, unclean.” Fearing contamination, the onlookers made way for him. Finally reaching Jesus, he fell on his face, worshiping Him, and said, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” In response, and out of compassion, before he was healed of leprosy, “Jesus put forth His hand and touched him” (Mark 1:39-45, Luke 5:13).

It was the human touch of Christ’s hand that healed the root of rejection and the pain in this l***r’s soul. Jesus could have healed him with a word, but His touch of love and acceptance first healed his inner being. Only then did Jesus say, “I will: be now clean” (Luke 5:13), and the man was healed of leprosy. Jesus ministered to both healings but in different ways.

God’s hand has touched the inner being of my life many times. When I was a child, we were very poor. I wore worn-out clothes, and my toes stuck out of my shoes.

During this time, I desperately wanted my mother’s love and attention. One night, my mother was on a date. I placed a piece of wood on my chest under my shirt, then stuck a knife into the board. To look like blood, I covered the area with ketchup. I waited and waited, hoping she would open the door and cry out, “Oh no! What happened to my son?” Then I would know she really did care. After midnight, I grew tired of waiting and went to bed.

When I was 12, my mother remarried. Every evening at the supper table, my stepfather glared at me as I ate. The message was clear: “You are scum, and you are not worthy to eat at my table.” Every time I sat down to eat, the sense of unworthiness haunted me for years.

As a teenager. As I left for school, my stepfather stood in the doorway and said, “You are nothing, and you will never be anybody.” He said this for 6 years, until I left home at 18. Because of the curse of his words, every time I started to become successful, such as in finances, relationships, or sports, I would sabotage it, believing it would never happen.

That is until the Lord showed me that He doesn’t create failures. Long before I was born, I was conceived in the heart of the Father. In the womb, He knew me. Through His grace, I was born to succeed and prosper in EVERY area of my life. Today, whether in my marriage, finances, health, or ministry, God has shown His desire for His people to prosper. The apostle John echoed this truth when he said,

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 1: 2).

What about the years I desperately longed for my mother’s attention? One day, I felt the warmth of the Lord's hand touch my right hand. Immediately, He healed the emptiness and rejection I felt in my heart and soul. Instead of feeling forsaken and unloved, I began to live with confidence and assurance, knowing I was loved and wanted! Wrapped in the arms of my Father’s loving care, I now know who I am and whose I am.

Regarding my stepfather, who did not welcome me at his table? Today, the Lord continually welcomes me to come and dine at His table. There in His presence, as David proclaimed,

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over with blessings” (Psalm 23:5).

Each morning, with thanksgiving, I feast on God's Word. I also enjoy life's simple pleasures. But sometimes I have tears in my eyes from the joy and gratitude I feel while eating a delicious meal; people don’t understand that it’s all because of God’s healing grace.

Jesus walked through the human experience of temptation, grief, loneliness, sorrow, and rejection (Isaiah 53:3). Whether it’s our memories, heart and soul issues, or spiritual or physical infirmities, Jesus' hand can touch and heal every part of life.

You don’t have to clean up your life first or feel worthy to come to the Lord. He accepts you right where you are. Christ’s compassion and His healing virtue are available to all who call upon His name. His hand is ready to reach out and touch you right where you are.

Psalm 34:8 tells us, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Roy Roden
Eastgate Ministries
[email protected]

09/25/2026

Numbers often have a personal meaning. Often, I wake up and see 5:55 on the clock, which represents grace for change. The number 123 means I am moving in the right direction. The number 55 reminds me of Romans 5:5: the grace for our hearts to shed the Lord’s love abroad and impact the lives of others through the Holy Spirit given to us.

The number 9:11 has always evaded me; that is, until this morning- the scriptural reference is Luke 9:11, which is the ministry message of Jesus when He walked this earth.

“And the people, when they knew it (He was in a city called Bethsaida), followed Him. And He received them and spoke unto them of the Kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.”

The message Jesus preached was the Kingdom of God accompanied by the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit. So, what does 9:11 mean to me? It is the commission that Jesus gave, which is to:

“Preach the Kingdom of God that is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the l***rs, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely you have received, freely give” (Mathew 10:7-8).

This lends itself to the question, “What is the kingdom message that is at hand that we preach today, and what are the signs of the Holy Spirit that follow?

Roy Roden

09/20/2026

Sunday Tidbit: The Power Of God’s Love

In 1971, I returned home from Vietnam a different man. Constant exposure to the direct line of fire, mortar attacks, b***y traps, and the atrocities of war affected me not only psychologically but also emotionally. Although I was alive, I was dead inside. My heart was cold, with ice flowing in my veins; I had become a casualty of war.

The moral foundation I once embraced had changed. At times, the way I thought, acted, and responded to life made no sense. Shaped by military training, my responses were quick and reactive. Without considering the consequences, I lived as an unprincipled rogue. For instance, after a man cursed my name, I decided to go after him with a sh***un to restore my honor, mostly to insult him rather than to hurt him.

My wartime buddy, a Mono Indian, was of the same character. We enjoyed the freedom of the open road on our motorcycles. One evening, my buddy caused a disturbance at a local bar; when we left, the police chased us down. They let my friend go home, but they arrested me. Sitting in the back seat of the police car, I overheard the police bragging that they had arrested the ringleader of the Indian reservation.

Nevertheless, God kept pursuing me. I had known Him as a child, but out of rebellion, I chose to live my own way. Yet no matter what I did or how far I ran from Him, His Spirit was there to bring me home. A major turning point came one day at a stoplight. As I looked over at the car next to me, my eyes were drawn to the woman at the wheel.

Suddenly, God opened my eyes. I saw that she believed happiness would come from fame, love, prosperity, and success. I realized that no matter how much she obtained, it would only lead to emptiness. While these things can be wonderful without God, they lack the true love, peace, and joy we have in Christ Jesus. I also became aware of spiritual warfare. I perceived angels and demonic forces raging in the heavenly realm over this lady’s soul. It dawned on me that heaven and hell are real; I could no longer “sit on the fence” and remain neutral.

I had to make a decision. In 1976, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The power of the cross freed me from guilt and sin, and I became a new man in Christ. Soon after, my heavenly Father spoke to me, saying, “Welcome home, son.” He then filled me with His love and His Holy Spirit (James 1:17). The power of His love transformed my heart. The Lord tells us,

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony (hard, cold) heart and give to you a heart of flesh…” (Ezekiel 36:26).

A transformed heart brings a transformed life. As it is written, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away: behold, all things are new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Awakened to a new reality, I began the journey to draw closer to Him. Just as a man's love for his bride draws him to her, I am drawn daily to God to know His truth, wisdom, thoughts, and understanding. He desires that we experience His love and know our true identity as His beloved sons and daughters.
There is life in His love! His love awakens our minds, hearts, souls, and spirits with the very life of God’s Spirit. God has given us a new heart to know Him (Jer. 24:7). To know His heart is to know His thoughts, His passions, His desires: it's all about a living relationship with our Creator.

Transformed by the power of His love, I have been raised from death to life. His love energizes my entire being daily with His presence. I am led, motivated, and moved by His love. When the time comes for me to go home, I have left instructions to be written on my tombstone as follows,

“I have met the Father and His love, and I learned to love with His love.”

In His heart with love- Roy Roden
[email protected] www. Eastgateministries.org

09/13/2026

Sunday Tidbit: Welcome Home Son

As a youth, I felt like an orphan. It’s possible to have a home with parents and still feel abandoned and unwanted. My father was an alcoholic who slept during the day and drank at night. My mother, saddled with four children, was busy trying to make ends meet. We never had family time, played games, or went on outings. Nor did we invite friends or relatives over for supper. However, I did have one close friend, nature: I loved hiking in the woods, fishing, sometimes stealing one of my neighbor’s chickens, and cooking it on coals at the nearby lake.

Shortly after my father died, my mother remarried. One day I was walking with my stepfather when he looked down at me and said, “I am not your father so don’t expect me to act like one.” Feeling abandoned and lost, my attempted to connect with someone failed.

In 1968, I joined the Maine Corps. At the end of my tour in Vietnam, we were shipped back to the United States on an aircraft carrier. While departing off the ship, we were met with hostile protesters, who treated us like traitors instead of heroes. A week later I was discharged by the Marine Corps. Homeless, I roamed aimlessly like a vagabond.

Then, at the age of 27, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. I was worshipping one Sunday when I saw my heavenly Father looking down from heaven, He affectionately said, “Welcome home son.” Words cannot describe the healing love I felt. Now a child of God, I realized I had always been wanted, but never knew it. Romans 8:15 tells us,

“But you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry “Abba Father.”

Now, a beloved son of my heavenly Father, the feeling of being at home with people still evaded me. I felt isolated even in a crowd. Unable to participate in the lighthearted mirth of a party, or join in the happiness expressed at a family reunion, I mostly kept to myself.

People who have an “orphan spirit” have a hard time receiving love and believing they are loved. Time and time again, my heavenly Father tells me, “I am pleased with you.” His love has fathered into wholeness. What my real father and stepfather failed or could not do, the love of my heavenly Father accomplished. It is written in Psalms 68:5 that, “God is a Father of the fatherless...”

Today, I am fortunate to marry a woman who socially fits in like a tailored glove. Observing how she related to people so easily, and laughing freely, I have learned the value of close relationships. I thank God for her patience, who at times has addressed my “abrasive” behavior. Wives are often the Lord’s means of bringing correction to you.

Somewhere down the road, I have returned to humanity. Today I actually like being with people! I love listening to people’s hearts, hearing their stories, exchanging ideas and communicating with them. I especially cherish the evenings with my wife while enjoying “supper with a movie” together. Being with her at family events today is like a breath of fresh air. Truly family, and friends are a precious treasure, a gift from God, one which we should always take the time to be thankful for and cultivate.

I have learned the value of friendship, the life- giving joy that comes with fellowship. I love playing mini golf with my ministry friends, as well as engaging in various other activities. Having life- giving connections with others provides a mooring for those of us that floated about like a balloon. Instead of running due to fright, a love for ourselves and other, provides an anchor that holds us steady, even in the midst of storms.

This is my message. If you feel like an orphan, know that you are greatly loved and wanted. You have not been abandoned or forsaken. Through Christ Jesus, the pathway home was provided for you at Calvary. It doesn’t matter how far you have strayed, or what you may have done;, your heavenly Father awaits your return. With great anticipation and open arms, He awaits to embrace you as His beloved child, and fill you with His love (Luke 15:11-12).

In His heart with love, Roy Roden
Eastgate Ministries

09/07/2026

The Coming Waves of Glory

It was Easter, 2001. The Lord asked me to rise early and go to Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise. Not knowing why, I did as the Lord asked. This mountain is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, Maine. From Maine to Florida, it is the highest mountain on the Eastern Seaboard, standing at a majestic height of 1,530 feet. The earliest rays of sunlight in America first touch the peak of this mountain.

Just before dawn, I perched on a rock, eagerly waiting for the sun to rise. As far as I could see, the vast Atlantic Ocean lay before me. With the dawn of a new day, a soft, glorious glow appeared on the eastern horizon. Like red embers glowing above the horizon, it announced the sun’s imminent arrival.

Moments later, the sun, just peering over the horizon, radiated God's light and presence. A great peace flooded my soul. The splendor of the first visible rays was glorious, profound, and yet indescribable. It dawned on me that I was watching the glory of the Lord rise, first over Maine, then over the rest of the Nation.

But then something interesting happened. A wave of glory radiating from the sun passed through me. Like waves of water rushing to shore, they kept coming. As the Sun rose higher, each wave grew stronger. Each wave had a purging effect, leaving me clean and refreshed. It was an outpouring that bathed me in His glorious beauty. This spoke to me that the glory of God will not only come in increasing waves but also with increasing strength and intensity.

The Sun, now sitting on the horizon, cast a yellow carpet of golden light that glistened across the ocean's surface. No wider than a one-lane highway, it stretched from the horizon beneath the Sun to the base of the mountain. I knew this illuminated the pathway to Jesus, God’s Son. Jesus is the light, the Son of God. Proverbs 5:18 came to mind.

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more until the fullness of the day.

Prophetically speaking

An outpouring of the light of the Son of God is coming, not only to draw us closer to Him but also to reveal and reflect His glory in us and through us. As Isaiah 58:6-11 says, those who follow these verses will see their light break forth as the morning; their light will rise until they become as the noonday sun; and the glory of the Lord shall be their reward. To quote this TPT interpretation of Isaiah 58:8,

“Then My favor will bathe you in Sunlight until you are like the dawn bursting through a dark night.”

Each wave has a cleansing effect. His divine nature also reveals His glory. This maturing process will prepare the people for the next wave of His glory. This cleansing effect will enable the Church to move from “Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). I believe this cleansing process is now, and has been, taking place.

Maine’s State Seal was adopted in 1820. The motto is “Dirigo,” meaning “I lead” or “I direct” in Latin. It is written below the North Star. It is the providence of God that Maine is to be the main gate for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will impact this Nation.

In June 2015, Lance Wallnau gave this prophecy: “Maine will be the Main Gate in New England.”

08/26/2026

Now available on Amazon: “GOD’ S DESIGN FOR SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE.” For many years, author Roy Roden has officiated “Spiritual Marriage” ceremonies. A Spiritual marriage brings a couple into unity with the Lord with one heart, one love, and one Spirit – His. Couples testify to the transformation as they enter a new level of life-giving relationship: a connection made in heaven with divine purpose, rooted in the Father's love.

Whether you are married, single, or engaged, drawing on inspired Biblical truth reveals the same life-giving principles for all believers who want to elevate their lives to a higher spiritual level. Christian life is founded on relationship, the spiritual connection that enables believers to shine with the light of God’s glory.

Roy Roden is the founder of Eastgate Ministries. Known as a man passionate for God’s presence, a minister with the Father’s heart that reveals His love in the power of the Spirit. For more information, contact Roy at [email protected]

08/25/2026

Sunday Tidbit: Patience, A Glorious Virtue To Have.

The apostle James tells us to count it all joy when we face trials and temptations. Adversities are God’s means of developing patience in our lives (James 1:1-4). But why are we to count it all joy? Personally, I find it hard to smile, let alone be joyful, as I navigate turbulent storms, especially in relationships. The temptation is to show frustration or anger, or to entertain thoughts of... you know, all those feelings that are contrary to being Christ-like!

James tells us that testing our faith produces patience; we are therefore to let “patience have her perfect work.” Enduring times of testing build godly character, inner strength, and spiritual maturity. Impatience leads us to run ahead of God and take matters into our own hands, resulting in reactions that promote strife, discord, and division. Where does our trust lie? In Christ or in our own strength, wisdom, and ability to handle life’s situations?

Being patient doesn’t mean we no longer have emotions. Rather, how we respond matters. Instead of being led by the Spirit, unresolved anger, jealousy, and similar emotions can drive our actions. Often, the Lord tells me to do nothing but wait. For me, this feels like being in a boxing ring alone, with no opponent. In my obedience, He often resolves the situation or shows me the path forward. With my emotions in check, I proceed in the right spirit, for the right reason, with purpose. Patience truly is a virtue because it requires trusting the Lord.

Losing our patience can have serious consequences. Moses is an example of this. He understood that to lead Israel through the wilderness, he would need God’s help. He asked God to show him His glory, saying he would not lead unless God was with him. In response to Moses’ request, the Lord put him in a cleft of the rock. As the Lord passed by, He revealed His mercy, abundant in goodness, truth, and longsuffering (Exodus 333:22, 34:5-7, 35).

Instead of revealing His glory, God revealed His heart. Moses was fortunate to be given the heart of the Father along with His divine nature. The Lord’s divine nature within Moses enabled him to shine with the light of God’s glory. God’s divine nature empowered Moses with the strength and character to lead God’s people. In essence, this is the fruit that patience is meant to produce through trials, known as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is forged in our lives and enables us to abide in His divine nature, not in ours. Thus, patience is a virtue we should all desire, no matter the price.

However, over time, Moses developed a serious issue. After years of dealing with what he called a stiff-necked, rebellious people, Moses’ heart began to grow cold. God asked Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. In anger, Moses called the people “rebels” and disobeyed the Lord, striking the rock twice with his rod. In effect, the rock became a way to vent his anger toward the people. Because of this misrepresentation of God, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Impatience has consequences (Numbers 20).

Today, many people are like ticking time bombs, ready to explode. Volatile emotions are like a virus; they spread quickly and affect many. Praise God, there is a place where we can abide in the presence of the Lord, marked by peace and joy. Patience enables us to abide in the peace and presence of God, who is love, the source of all that we are called to be and do.

While I do not control everything around me, I love feeling in control of my inner self, refusing to let the things of this world dictate my reactions and course of action. When one stands with patience, being still within, they stand in the strength of the Lord, for that is His nature. Proverbs 16:32 tells us:

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.”

Recently, I encountered a misunderstanding that deeply hurt my heart. Through the ordeal, I discovered that I was not only patient but also resting in God's peace. Peace prevailed throughout the ordeal. Finally, I understood why James tells us to let patience have her perfect work. His peace is the result of learning to place our faith in Christ, our resting place. Here in His presence, there is fullness of joy, His joy, which is our strength.

In His heart and love- Roy Roden

Eastgate Ministries

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