Patience

Colossians 3:12  "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9  "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,  for anger resides in the lap of fools."

        If you know me at all, you know 'patience' is not my gift nor do I pretend it to be.  Patience is a daily struggle of mine.  I am able to say I have a better grasp on it now than my younger days, but I recognize the fact that I will never master it in this life.  I blog on the topic of patience often, because of my own need to work on this characteristic of God in my life.  

       Philippians 2:14-16  " Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.  And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."

        Sometimes I wonder how God is using my disease as a way to build faith qualities within me, not just frustration.  His patience with me to learn patience is amazing, to say the least.  CMT, my disease, makes me wait in so many ways.  As I am typing now, I have to stop and wait for my arm to rest before I can type any more.  It's a test of patience with myself... will I rest and continue or just give up on the project completely?

       "More important than the awaited goal is the work God does in us while we wait.  Waiting deepens and matures us, levels our perspective, and broadens our understanding." [J.C. Maxwell]

        God's patience with each of us is beyond our understanding.  None of us would wait on others or ourselves, like God does, on any matter.  "Since God is a patient God, when we abandon patience we miss the opportunity to show our world the glory of God through our lives." [odb.org]  Philippians 1:6 promises "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  When I contemplate my failures with patience, this promise encourages me that God isn't finished with me yet.

        Romans 12:12 reminds me to "Be patient in tribulation."  I'm not saying it's easy, but God has a plan with a purpose.  So we must pray for direction to submit to His plan, patience to wait and endure well with His plan, and knowledge to know His plan above our own.

        May we all pray for the patience to endure times of trial, to keep anticipating, keep hoping, keep believing in the promises of God.  Pray for patience to be patient.

3 Areas to Control Our Patience Through [intouch.org]

1] Thoughts. It is important that we shift our attention away from the circumstance and onto the Lord. His Spirit will help us gain the right perspective.

2] Emotions. When the Holy Spirit oversees our feelings and reactions, we will find ourselves becoming calmer. Then He will empower us to respond in a godly manner.

3] Speech. Asking Him to help us have self-control over our tongue is essential. A timely word can defuse a situation; speaking defensively or shouting angrily at the other person can inflame it (Prov. 15:18).