Ahhhh......Patience

Wow - we are to patience already. I confess that patience is a true struggle of mine. I'm sure my family can attest to that! Particularly my children, if they were old enough to explain such things. I have been putting off writing about patience, but it actually is good that I must. I have a lot to learn and definitely need points of practical application!

So, a good place to start is with Scripture, as always. Proverbs has a lot to say about patience. It's mostly about why patience is a good thing to have. Here are some verses to consider:

Proverbs 14:29 -- "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."

Proverbs 15:18 -- "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."

Proverbs 16:32 -- "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temnper than one who takes a city."

Proverbs 19:11 -- "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

I think about times when I have lost my patience and I know that the words in Proverbs are true. It makes things worse when a temper is lost. Not only does it make others angry too, but it makes my mood and attitude worse overall. I want to be considered wise, calm, and as having understanding. Clearly, having patience will produce those qualities in me.

Take some time to think about other benefits of patience, or share any other Proverbs that pertain to this "fruit." In the next post, I will start to talk about how to get patience (that is really the key, isn't it??). Until then, be patient! :)

Purpose

I have, in recent years, been thinking a lot about purpose. What purpose does God have for my life? Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing? My questioning comes in the context of my life's "work" or the job I'm supposed to be doing, the legacy I will leave. I am usually thinking of my future - my career, my "path," my life's purpose. It occurs to me now, though, that this focus is entirely misplaced. My concern should not be on my plans and on having things set in place for me. This journey called life is not about knowing exactly what is coming and knowing what to do in every situation ahead of time. I would like it to be that way! Wouldn't life be so much easier?

Having such knowledge might give me momentary human comfort, but thoughts and questions like this only hinder my ability to allow God to work in my life. It again is my focus on myself rather than on God. How can growth occur if I move through life acting out a pre-determined script? Instead, I should live my life focusing on loving and serving God in each moment. In this way, I can remain open to whatever God has for me each day. I can trust God to see and lead me down the right path even when I don't see or know what that path is exactly. And it makes it easier for me to maintain constant conversation with God through daily prayer.

In each moment, rather than worry about what that moment has brought us or where we should go next, we can speak with God. Allow our hearts to praise Him for the good moments and the things we see around us all the time. Praise Him in the bad times and struggles, acknowledging that it is through those times that God is teaching us and drawing us closer to Him. Pray for help with decisions. Pray prayers of faith, expressing trust in God for control of each moment and day. Pray for those we come in contact with. Long and elaborate prayers aren't necessary, only our short statements and thoughts will make up this running conversation.

God promises to fill us with joy and peace, along with all the other "fruits," when we focus on Him. Let's test God in this and see what a difference it can make in our lives!