Do you give up easily?
When you find things hard, are you first out of the door? Or do you try again and use a different tactic?
I confess that I am sometimes a good starter of projects. I get less joy out of finishing them- but I have learnt that I need to stick with it. I love to see a job well done. I am learning to enjoy persevering with something until it is completed.

I think God’s primary work in us is sometimes simply to mature us. This is not always fun. It is not always easy. But it is the way that God gets His work done on earth. Well.

I was amazed recently to hear about the change in an old friend who used to be a real liability on stage; a gifted communicator, but sometimes a bit of a loose cannon, he was a guy whose mouth could often get him into trouble! Friends in common shared a few weeks ago how God has matured him and how he now speaks with grace, wisdom and clarity. No longer brash, no longer ‘dangerous’.

I so want God to do this in me too. I don’t want to be thought of as immature, and yet, so often I am. Let me explain.
When I think of someone with maturity it conjures up the following things in my mind:

They are able to take criticism and praise with grace. Am I?
They are not easily offended or angered. Am I?
They live a life of discipline and self-control. Do I?
They think of others. Do I?
They see the bigger picture, not just the part that affects them. Do I?
They consider before acting. Do I?
They speak carefully. Do I?
They seek to build up not tear down. Do I?
They know God well and are prayerfully committed to His plans. Am I?

I don’t know about you but I don’t do very well at all when I consider a list like that!

James 1:4 says “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I pray this over myself today… perhaps you would like to pray it too.

Father, teach me today to see the areas in my life that are not maturing in the way You need them to. Show me what You are working on in me and what You need me to do to get alongside You. Help me to focus on how You complete me, so that I don’t lack anything. Thank you that when you look at me, you don’t just see what is wrong with me, but You choose to see the image of Your beautiful son at work. Thank you for maturing me. Make me an easier job for you to work on!
Amen