Words of knowledge//Prov. 23:12 from the NRSV...Apply your mind to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.verses 17,18 of this same chapter " Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the Lord. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." Several times in the King James Version a verse will open with these words..."and it came to pass". Someone wittingly has said "I'm glad this thing has come to pass and not to stay." Humorous that may be but it carries a message to our anxieties. This trial that you are facing will pass even though we sometimes feel that there is no future, that this is all there is. The Bible says here that " Surely"...from the Amplified Bible it says "For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off." Whatever it may be that is troubling you today remember these words...words of knowledge...there is a future, there is an end to this situation you are in, there is an endurance reward, a future and a hope. Haven't you had an answer to your prayers just yet? Does it seem like the heavens are as brass? Do your prayers seem like they don't get past the ceiling? Or have you given up in prayer? Well don't give up just because you have not seen an answer. Maybe you just have not recognized it yet. God is still on the throne and He has not forgotten you and He sees the cry of your heart.

In my city which is a seaport, there is an oil terminal where oil tankers come in and load petroleum products. And I pass this terminal several times a week on my way from home or back to home. One day I was complaining, I would have to say, yes, it was complaining, to the Lord, about a situation in my life that there did not seem to be an answer for. And I was feeling rather blue about it all, as a matter of fact, I was crying out to God and suddenly I took notice of a ship tied up to the terminal and it was loading oil products to take to a market somewhere. This ship looked like it had seen many storms; it had great blotches of rust on it's sides where the paint was missing and in my minds eye I could imagine how rough the storms were that it had been through. As I quickly scanned the condition of this vessel while I was driving by in my F150, I took notice of the name on the side near the bow....PERSEVERANCE!

It was as though God pulled the curtains back and let me see His answer.

Perseverance, persistence in prayer is the answer...He will answer as we are persistent in prayer and He will give us a future, a hope when it seems there is no way out. The answer or result of our praying may not be evident yet but if we are instant in prayer, consistent, persevering, and insistent combined with faith then He is committed, compelled, faithful to deliver on His promises. Look to Him again today and put your confidence in what He has said....truly He is faithful. Your future is secure as long as your confidence is placed in God.