Thursday, July 8, 2010

PATIENCE



SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
PATIENCE

Very few people are patient in nature. In fact, to be impatient seems to come far too easier. But did you know that you can grow in patience? It takes time but the Lord wants to do that work in you so you can be patient with difficult people and trying circumstances of life. Here are some scriptures to encourage you:

- The basis for our patience with others is God's patience with us: (Neh 9:30) Yet for many years You had patience with them...

- Good news! What is not natural with us is supernatural by the Holy Spirit in us: (Gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering...

- Stop being so easily frustrated. Get control of your anger. We are to be possessed with patience!: (Luke 21:19) By your patience possess your souls.

- Be patient when things go wrong. Seek to be an example to others that God is always in control: (Rom 12:12) ... patient in tribulation...

- Patience is needed in the mundane (unexciting) routines of life: (Rom 2:7) eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.

- Reading the Bible will calm you down: (Rom 15:4) For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.



- We can be patient because of the anticipated positive outcome. Don't give up hope!: (1 Thes 1:3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ..

- Extra patience is needed in winning others to Christ. Remember how long it took you to yield?: (2 Tim 2:24) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.

- Don't give up now. You will be rewarded for your patience: (Heb 6:12) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

- Patience is a sign of maturity. God can't promote you if you keep throwing fits!: (James 1:4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

- Keep sowing seeds and let the Lord rain down His blessings in His time. One of these days the ultimate payoff will come. We'll be in the presence of the Lord!: (James 5:7-8) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.


I think we pretty much parallel Abraham when it comes to patience. God gave him a promise. He became impatient and took things in his own hands (which became a disaster). He then yielded to God again and settled into that simple trust in the Lord. Then God brought about His plan. Some say not to pray for patience because God might send a trial in response. But I'm usually in some kind of trial so I pray for patience anyway!!

Louie

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