HEAVENSREEF

Oh how we pray for patience!  We learn over time that it is the one thing we probably shouldn’t pray for because we know we will always blow it!

How often I fall short of patience, how often I will in the future and I continually ask GOD for forgiveness on this one.  When I am on the clock for sure I become impatient with everything and everyone!

All of our days are lessons in patience.  Our fellow humans need patience from us, besides our immediate families and friends.  Patience is a learned response and it is continually before us as a challenge.

But could the times that try our patience all be lessons in humility and pride?  Does my impatience with someone or something point to my self-centered nature? 

IS GOD USING PATIENCE AS A WAY TO REFINE US?

ECCLESIASTES 7: 8  “BETTER IS THE END OF A THING THAN IT’S BEGINNING, AND THE PATIENT IN SPIRIT IS BETTER THAN THE PROUD IN SPIRIT.”

In tough and trying times patience  is so needed.  We want things and times to change on a dime these days…..we want things when we want them!  I think our cell phones with everything at our fingertips has made us a very impatient society.

ROMANS 12: 12 “REJOICE IN HOPE; BE PATIENT IN AFFLICTION; BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER.”

 

Think of how patient JESUS was with people and HIS disciples.  HE listened and HE waited.  HE never was in a hurry, because HE also knew HE was right where HIS Father wanted HIM to be.  As far as time went, JESUS knew eternity was waiting for HIM. 

HEBREWS 10: 36  “PATIENT ENDURANCE IS WHAT YOU NEED NOW, SO THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO GOD’S WILL.  THEN YOU WILL RECEIVE ALL THAT HE HAS PROMISED.”

Patient endurance and perseverance are all needed in large amounts to stand solid in everyday trials and hard lessons.

As often as we are short tempered and seem to fly off the handle, let’s remember that each time is a lesson in refinement…….so allow HIM to press you.  Then take a deep breath, step back from the situation at hand and then press forward with HIS hand upon you……keep a GODLY perspective of the situation.

IF THE LORD IS PATIENT WITH US, SHOULDN’T WE BE EVER MORE PATIENT WITH THOSE AROUND US?

2 CORINTHIANS 6: 6  “WE PROVE OURSELVES BY OUR PURITY, OUR UNDERSTANDING, OUR PATIENCE, OUR KINDNESS, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US, AND BY OUR SINCERE LOVE.”

The LORD is a refiner of our patience…….HE tests us in it.  Thank heaven that the HOLY SPIRIT is with us daily!  Listen to these words from Daniel:

DANIEL 11: 36 “……AND SOME OF THE WISE SHALL STUMBLE, SO THAT THEY MAY BE REFINED, PURIFIED AND MADE WHITE, UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END, FOR IT STILL AWAITS THE APPOINTED TIME.”

Those who are wise will stumble and those who are wise will lose their patience with this world, but those who are wise will realize that it is GOD refining their will and patience and this refining will eventually make them whole!

So when we lose it, let’s step back, pray and seek HIS patience.  We cannot do this patience thing on our own.  We may be troubled, perplexed and frustrated every single day, but the ONE who loves us, is refining us through it all.  Only the presence of GOD will help us because of HIS immeasurable patience with us!  So may we find just a little more patience today then we did yesterday and let’s remember that GOD is doing a good thing within us…….refining our patience a little at a time to bring us to completion for all of eternity.

EPHESIANS 4: 1-2  “AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED.  BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE; BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.”