Faithfulness

A long time ago, someone I know went to work abroad as a missionary and I agreed with the Lord that I would pray for them every night. For a while I managed it but one day I was very late to bed and I forgot.

I was just about to doze off when I remembered: ‘Oh bother, I’ve forgotten to pray for them.’

I told myself it didn’t matter and I would pray tomorrow, but I had no peace. I told myself I was just being legalistic! That didn’t work. I told myself I was too tired. But it was no good; I knew that if I didn’t maintain the daily habit, I would lose it.

So in a very bad mood I got out of bed again, saying ‘Oh all right! If I must!’ I knelt down by the bed to speak to God and immediately felt convicted. How dare I approach the King of the Universe with such a bad attitude? ‘Just think about who you are speaking to!’

Chastened, I said to the Lord, ‘I’m sorry to come to You with such a bad attitude.’

And do you know what He said? I heard His reply in my mind quite clearly: ‘Faithfulness is not a bad attitude.’ I knew it was God’s voice because it took me a moment to process what He had said. I had indeed come reluctantly, even complaining, but at the root I had come out of faithfulness and He treasures faithfulness.

He could see that it was difficult for me to be faithful at that moment, which is why He was encouraging me. It’s when things are at their hardest that faithfulness counts the most. What are you struggling with today? Will God encourage you?

When you are faithful even in the very hardest of times, you are really pleasing your Heavenly Father, because faithfulness is treasured by God. He wants to say to you today, ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:23). His heart is to encourage you and help you. 1 Corinthans 10:13 says ‘And God is faithful: he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’

If you are struggling to keep going today, turn to your Father for help.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your kindness and your faithfulness. Help me to be faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.