Developing Patience

I have seriously been struggling with patience, and I must admitt, this has, forever that I can remember, been my weakness. Lately, however, this weakness is at 100%, and boy am I struggling.

I pray constantly for me to have more of it, and if it weren't for God helping me endure things, I wouldn't know what would happen. Thank you Lord for teaching me how to have patience, please continue to help me.

Becoming a Patient Woman
29 Jul 2010
Rachel Olsen

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need." Colossians 1:11 (NLT)

In a heart that values instant gratification like mine does, patience seems hard to come by.

In the last several weeks I've raced through a yellow light because I didn't want to wait at a red light – that's dangerous! I've looked up my symptoms on the internet because I didn't want to sit in a doctor's waiting room – that can be dangerous too. I've paid extra for an item off the internet because I didn't want to stand in line at the store – that's wasteful. I've also eaten dessert first, because I didn't want to wait until it was "time" for dessert – well, that's just called for sometimes! Though I can't recall a specific instance, odds are high that I lost my patience at some point and fussed at my kids.

We want stuff and we want it now. We want results and we want them now. Yet the Bible repeatedly says that patience should be a way of life for followers of Christ.

God is love and patience is part of His character. For you and I to love like God loves, patience will be required (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Loving as God loves is the ultimate goal as we walk through this life seeking to please God and become like Him.

I define patience as the ability to endure graciously. We all have to deal at times with people or circumstances that try our composure – an ungrateful child, an inattentive waitress, a slow moving line at the cash register, a spouse or friend taking our efforts for granted. How graciously do we behave in these circumstances?

The Bible says God will be faithful to complete the good works He began in us (Phi lippians 1:6). That implies there's going to be some "in the meantime" when we're all less than perfect and less than easy to love. This is where patience comes in. The apostle Paul instructs us to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph.4:1-3).

We also have to exercise patience with God as we wait for His full plan to unfold. At times we must wait for answers to prayers, for deliverance, for provision, or for Him to dispense justice or reveal His will. We really have no choice but to wait in these circumstances, but a woman developing patience will endure the wait graciously. It helps to remember how very patient God has to be with us on a daily basis!

Exercising patience isn't just an exercise of the human will. The kind of patience Paul is talking about is a fruit of the Spirit d eveloped in a woman's soul in tandem with God. It's a virtue that grows from her confidence in the sovereignty of God and His ability to bring all things to completion, in His timing, in a way that benefits His children and glorifies Him.

This patience-thing may take some time to develop, but I've decided to graciously endure the process. I started today by stopping and waiting at a yellow light. As I sat at the intersection, I thought about God and about developing patience. The light turned green a mere minute later, and I went on my way with a smile on my face, happy to be a woman who is embracing patience ... even if in a very small way.

Dear Lord, thank You for being so very patient with me. Help me to develop patience, and display that quality for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Related Resources:
30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues

Visit Rachel's blog – and be patient if it takes a moment to load!

God's Purpose for Every Woman: A Compilation of Favorite P31 Devotions by various Encouragement for Today authors; Lysa TerKeurst and Rachel Olsen, General Editors

Application Steps:
Pray for patience - daily.

Keep the word "patience" in the forefront of your mind today and look for opportunities to be more patient.

Reflections:
Who in my life can benefit from me extending them more patience?

How would becoming more patient change my day, my outlook, my health, or my relationships?

Is my patience stronger than my temper?

Power Verses:
Proverbs 25:15, "Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition." (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:8, "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." (NLT)

Romans 15:15, "May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other." (NLT)

© 2010 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Words I Must Write

As I gaze at the pacifier Tristan steadly sucks on, I cannot stop thinking, will it drop out of his pursed lips soon. I remember that Chris told me that I cannot get up until it drops, or he stops sucking on it, which means that he is asleep enough to get up out of the rocking chair (ever so slowly he says) and pace a minute or two. Moving too quickly would startle our strong willed baby boy, and we DO NOT DARE. So, back to where I was, oh yeah, staring, staring at a paci, the miracle that paci is. I am rocking back and forth, back and forth, and my thoughts drift off...in the corner of my eye there is his laundry folded and sorted on his window seat, I need to put that away, of course I've been saying that for a week, why is it not done, oh yeah, THERES BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT WASHED, thank heavens it is washed. Still, I am a neat freak and it is seriously bothering me now, yes, I will get it done tomorrow when my hubby is home to help me. Quickly my thoughts turn to remembering how much time I USED to have. Boy oh boy were people right, they told me when I was prego to enjoy my time, I did, in a way, but now I realize all the time I REALLY had, and I am disapointed in myself as I recall having honestly wasted SO MUCH TIME. Doing what? I don't even remember, watching tv alot, which is what I had to do alot being on bedrest, but I also wish I had worked on photo books of our wedding, honestly...it is still not complete, 2 years married and no photo book, what is wrong with me. Enough, moving on! Oh yeah, as my eyes move across the room a little I find myself looking at the mold of my prego belly (belly cast) that my hubby did of me, wow, look at that belly! Then I began remembering my belly grow and grow, and then I think about how I barely recognize myself. I mean, I know who I am (I think), but I barely recognize this body, this face. I am a little sad. Then I am angry, not terribly angry, just stating reality, reality that no one I know voiced some of the frustrations I experience. Maybe they never felt it, but I did, I do. I am so in love and blessed to have this beautiful baby boy. He is my miracle, I love him dearly, but sometimes, I must admit that I am striken with guilt for having such little patience, for becoming so helpless, or well, feeling helpless. I think to myself...I need to write a book about Parenthood, A View From Down On My Knees. I would name it this because as a parent, you are ALWAYS on your knees, at least I am. I am on my knees praying, on my knees playing and on my knees cleaning...but on my knees am I. Mostly praying though. I pray for patience today, I am needing it ever so much today. I cannot say why exactly, I just need it. Maybe because today getting Tristan to nap is harder than usual. Maybe because my husband won't answer my call or call me back, or maybe becuase everytime I sit down to do something for myself, I am interupted. Now please do not think for one second that I am not VERY grateful of my baby boy. I am extremely blessed and I love him more than life itself, but I am stating what is true. I am just really wondering why I am the only one (it seems) to feel the way I do.

Watching My Words

The Valve
9 Jul 2010
Luann Prater

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5 (NIV)

My husband asked me to pick up some diesel fuel for the tractor. I had his truck and he had put the gas can in a box so it wouldn't tip over. Now, I'm 5'2", so can we just start there? Things that taller-than-me folks can do becomes a bit more of an issue for this vertically challenged gal. I pumped the gas into the can then tried to lift it, not only up to the bed of the truck, but over the top edge of the box. It was then I discovered the little valve cover was open.

A cup of gas escaped through that tiny opening, and strategically ran from the top of my t-shirt to the top of my pants. I panicke d that my cell phone might ring and light my fire! That wasn't the type of flame I was hoping God would fan in my life!

I scrubbed and scrubbed in the shower but the stench of gas remained in my nostrils.

My lips are like that little valve. It is such a small opening, yet the fuel that escapes can be unpleasant, caustic and even deadly. Loose lips have snapped at my family. Harsh tones have left friends feeling poisoned. Careless words have killed the spirit in a vulnerable child.

James tells us that our tongue is like a restless evil full of deadly poison. Ouch! My husband didn't want me to spill that gas; we wanted to use it for good. God doesn't want our tongues to open unless they are going to encourage and spur one another on.

Several years ago I made a very small, but very life-changing decision. When a hurtful thought comes into my head, I tighten my lips and force a pause button to appear in my brain. When I allow myself to have just a second to t hink about the potential hazard that could come from 'speaking my mind' it gives the Holy Spirit time to check my heart and motives. In that pause moment I say, "Lord, take control of this tongue." And He does.

Do I get it right every time? No. But I can see fewer wrecks in my life, fewer wounds, fewer poison-tipped darts flying out of this mouth. And I no longer reek of gasoline I added to the fire.
Want to join me? Pause. Seal up the valve and allow the Holy Spirit to work for good through the words you speak.

Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us that our tongue can rip a heart apart, or seal it back together. Teach us to pause long enough to give Your Spirit time to work in and through us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
30 Days to Taming Your Tongue: What You Say (and Don't Say) Will Improve Your Relationships and accompanying Workbook by Deborah Smith Pegues

Chat more with Luann on her blog or hear her on Encouragement Café every Saturday!

Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Jennifer Rothschild

For more daily encouragement, follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Application Steps:
Before anything negative slips past your lips today, hit the pause button. Pray that the Holy Spirit take control. Ask God to make you a peacemaker.
Below is todays Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotional. I try to read this daily, and when I do, I am usually encouraged. It's amazing what a few minutes reflecting on God's word can do for my life.

Lately, Chris and I have had our battles and I must admitt it is very challenging to watch my words. One minute I am smiling and being so sweet, and then the next, I am angry, tired and sick of it, and yep...those words start flowing out and they are lighting a fire within my husband, not a good one either, one that is ready to fire back, and then before I know it, were in a knock-down-drag-out-full-force FIGHT, could this have been avoided, perhaps, and perhaps not, but either way, I should have watched my words.

This is and will be a weakness for me, but today...I have hope that maybe, just maybe, I will connect completely with the WORD OF GOD and surrender to HIS WILL and WATCH MY WORDS. I know for certain that doing so will bring MORE PEACE to my home.

I think I fight with whether saying what I feel is SO nessesary to say, is indeed SO nessesary to say, when in the end, it only brings more frustration, more hurt, more anger.

-Darla
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Reflections:
Why do I say things I regret later?

When will I surrender my tongue to Jesus?

How can I allow my words to encourage instead of destroy?

Power Verses:
James 3:17, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (NIV)

Proverbs 27:15, "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day." (NIV)
© 2010 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.