Patience
Key Bible Verse:
Ephesians 4:1c – 3 “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Thoughts to ponder:
If love is the embodiment of all of the other fruit of the Spirit as we discussed on week two, then patience is the backbone of the entire group. It is what enables us to be effective in all of these. It is essential to our character development and yet, it takes time and divine trust to cultivate in our lives.
Patience means to have long suffering and to be slow to become angry. This requires the discipline and determination to put our immediate feelings and desires aside. Practicing patience is about extending grace to our own circumstances and to the people around us. In relationships, it means valuing what God wants to do in someone else more than you value what you want to have happen and it involves being tolerant, in love, of where the other person is in their walk with Christ.
Most importantly, patience depends upon trusting that God’s timing is is perfect and agreeing in humility with Jesus statement “Father…yet not as I will, but as You will”.
(Matthew 26:39)
Challenge/Action Step:
Think about the things that most often cause you to become impatient.
Ask God to help you discern the reasons for it.
What is one thing you can do today to develop greater patience?
Prayer for today:
Father we thank you that you are a patient God and slow to anger. I pray today that You would shine a light on our hearts and help us to discern the reasons we become so impatient at times. I pray that You would empower us with the discipline and determination to develop the character of patience in our life. ~ Amen
If you would like to participate in the weekly group chats about applying what we are learning about the fruit of the Spirit, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter. The meeting links will be emailed to you each week.
