Well, guess what God was (and is and will be) working on in me this week. ICK! Patience. It all started innocuously enough. Doing my Bible study on Ephesians, when we came to verse 4:2 Now depending on the version you are using the word is translated as patience or longsuffering.
Ephesians 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love.
Ok, I've seen the verse before. Know I am supposed to be patient, know I have a hard time in this area. I moved on quickly (hmmm, wonder why) reading the rest of the passage. But God was having none of that. He wanted my attention to this.
The study guide we are using had a phrase in this chapter regarding the word patience in this verse. And I got stuck on it. And am still stuck on it. No quickly moving past this verse anymore! It described patience this way; "self-restraint in the face of provocation." Oh. You mean I am supposed to be patient, kind and loving when people are provoking me, annoying me, being, well, human?!?!?! When I don't get my way? When they don't do what I want? When things don't work out? When people are not so nice? When they don't give me what I need?
So ok as if this God visit regarding patience wasn't enough. I get up from my short study and walk out to the kitchen. Time to check the phone, and oh, while I'm at it let me check out the verse of the day...bet it's on patience, huh, Lord. Hahaha....yup, once again you guessed it...it was!
James 5:8 You too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near.
Again Lord? I have to be patient!! Ugh!! And it continues....yes it does, checked out yesterday's verse of the day as well and yes indeed it was again on the topic of the week--PATIENCE.
Proverbs 25:15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. That's a bit of a strange saying....but I'm thinking bones of contention maybe.
I am of course thinking to myself, I don't know if I will ever ever ever get this patience thing down (although it is a fruit of the Spirit, so it's inside me somewhere). And immediately after reading this last verse the song "Overcomer" by Madisa came on the radio, so I guess the Lord was saying there is hope for me!
I know this is not something I will get in an overnight. It would be so nice if the Lord came down with His magic wand and zapped me with instant patience. Is that impatient to want patience immediately? And of course last night, once again I failed at it miserably. But I'll keep trying and working with the Holy Spirit in this area. Of course work is the place where I forget everything I am learning and just act out of emotion, so that is a big struggle for me. But God is bigger. And He will prevail.
I leave you with one verse and Madisa's song and my prayer that we all will grow in patience, with others, with God's timing and with ourselves. Growing up, I had a little sticker on my mirror. It had the acronym: PBPGIFWMY on it. Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet. Maybe I can remember that for others as well as myself.
Ecclesiates 7:8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
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