A New Heart: Patience

"The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Numbers 14:18, NASB).

There is something about patience. When I run across someone who shows patience, it usually stands out - a father taking time to teach his son how to catch a baseball, a gardener who waters their plants regularly before they sprout, even an astronaut having patience with themself as they try to walk again in gravity. This patience draws me in, and I wish I could just soak it up. When is the last time you saw someone showing patience? What did you think?

Patience is a part of who God is, so the great thing is that He's fully capable to help us grow in this area. He has shown us a lot of patience. He is wise, good, our Creator and our Savior. He waits for us with open arms to come be with Him and know Him on a deeper level, like the prodigal son's father in Luke 15:11-32. He continues to forgive us and to welcome us back into a closer relationship with Him.

God knows I still need His help with patience today, especially in traffic. Let's ask Him for help in showing others the same sort of patience He has.

Lord, thank You for showing us patience. Help us to grow in it, and please give us joy in the meantime, as we wait. We ask today that you give us an opportunity to share this part of You with someone else this week. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

A New Heart

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12, New American Standard Bible).

Did you get to see the Golden Globes a week or so ago? I admit that I love watching for the clothes that are new and that show a certain style. Most clothes fit the tone of the star studded, glamorous event.

What life style fits just right for followers of Christ? The books of Colossians and Galatians talk about those things. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, He not only forgives us but also continues working in us. He is able to give us the strength to live out who He first made us to be.

The Spirit helps us have hearts more like Christ, filled with:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Gentleness
• Patience

I think I need help in all of those areas. That is completely okay, though - God has grace and is still working in me. Let's pray He continues to work in our hearts in the ways this verse described, now that we have been made new in Christ and have the Holy Spirit as our guide.

Lord, thanks for Your forgiveness and taking the old ways out of us. Grow us in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us overflow with Your Spirit to others around us. Amen.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB). 

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.skiptomylou.org.

chewing on patience

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).  

Sharing the love of Christ is not always easy to do.  As we learn more about Him, though, we can see more of how to live and love like Him and how to share Him with others.  As we follow Him, I pray we show others more of who He is.  

In the above verse, I see how God is patient with us.  From 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, we can see that patience is a part of love: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful" (ESV).  Even when I am stubborn to follow God, He has great patience with me.  This patience motivates me, since it helps me see how His love and wisdom are great.  I pray we all have patience as we seek to follow Him and share Him with others.

What have you seen about God lately that you can live out today, so others may know Him, too?

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) .

"God is the definition of patience. When no one else is enduring and tolerant, He is. When others have had their patience run out, He is still there with staying power. He is patient. People are not always patient. All too often, we give up on people. Not only do we give up on them coming to Christ, but we give up in lots of ways. We lose patience with people even in little ways. As women leaders, we learn patience and show patience to all. Even if we are flustered with people, we learn to persist in God’s loving patience for them and for the situation." [from Women Leading Women, chapter four, B&H Acacemic, Martin & Stovall]

Let's not give up praying for people to come to Jesus. Let's be patient with those we meet and minister to.

Oh Lord, help me live Your patience in my life today.