News from Good News Ministries:
- What Are You Waiting For?
- Companion Video to the Newsletter!
- Plus, great links to great content!
What Are You Waiting For?
Today, organizations, restaurants, and package delivery companies seek to minimize or eliminate wait times. Why? Some may hastily reply, “Modern culture has conditioned us to live this way, and technological advancements have increased the pace at which our society operates.”
However, if you pause and reflect upon why waiting is so hard, you might find that an often overlooked commandment lies at the root of impatience. God commands us, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor (Exodus 20:17).”
God commands us not to covet because He knows we can develop an unhealthy attachment to earthly things. We too easily become consumed by jealousy, which can cause us to become impatient. Many overlook this commandment because we say to ourselves, “I didn’t steal anything.” However, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) is a separate commandment. God’s prohibition against coveting is entirely different.
The definition of covet is to yearn to possess or have something. The key difference between coveting and stealing is that to covet something, you don’t need to retain it physically. The threshold for breaking this commandment is simply becoming obsessed with possessing it. This definition helps illuminate impatience in an entirely new light. When we experience wait times, delays, or even miss out on acquiring something, instead of perceiving it as an inconvenience, it is an opportunity to remember that God is the Lord of our lives.
We can fill the void by praying instead of searching for another avenue to get what we want sooner. This isn’t easy, but imagine how much deeper our relationship with God could be if we transform our “wait time” into “prayer time.” Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and it grows from our fidelity to God’s commandment not to covet.
If you haven’t yet found the peace that the fruit of patience gives, just ask yourself, “What are you waiting for?” and “What are you coveting that is at the root of your impatience?”
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
We’ve Got a New Video for You!
This week, I was inspired to create a companion video to accompany the main article “What Are You Waiting For?” of this edition of our newsletter.
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Bill Snyder, Media Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
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How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare
Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints