Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

Galatians 5:22-23

I'm sure you've heard someone in your life tell you, "don't pray for patience because you won't like what God will give you to learn patience!"  Anyone nodding along?  I know I for one certainly want to have more patience, but I also don't want to have to learn to have it the hard way!  That's like having to do 1 million sit-ups to get a toned tummy...maybe I'd rather have the flab!

But patience is a virtue, and it is a fruit of the spirit, and I for one, do not want my fruit basket lacking anything, so I will grudgingly ask the Lord for more patience.

Look up Psalm 27:14.  Did you know that patience is directly linked with courage?  It does take a brave person to conjure up the strength needed to be patient especially if it is in the middle of a difficult situation.  

Patience seems to be a passive waiting game, but not so.  Look up Proverbs 19:11.  It is an intentional process that grows with time, maturity and wisdom.  We may not develop patience as quickly as we want but we can learn to tolerate our impatience...which actually means we are growing patience!

I could tell you some lofty, high and mighty kinds of things about patience, but the truth is that it is something that needs worked on daily just like your golf swing, a guitar riff, learning another language, or keeping your sanity while your child learns to play the drums.  Keep working on it, like sit-ups, and your patience muscle will become just as toned as your tummy.

Here are a couple cool quotes about patience:

Patience with others is love, patience with self is hope, and patience with God is faith - Adel Bestavros

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient.  He may just have a small piece of fluff in his ear - Winnie the Pooh

Until Next TIme.....

Franny