My Key Thoughts To Improve Your Patience
History shows that the most achieving people in the world are inner-directed people. Without inner direction, a person will have a problem with decision making. Patience is a must making it a good choice.
Patience has to come from deep within a person.
Forced patience is an exercise in futility.
First, we will see what patience is not.
1. Patience is not indifference; a shrugging of the shoulders and saying, ‘who cares?’.
2. Patience is not resignation; dropping the head and saying, ‘whatever will be, will be.’
3. Patience is not throwing up the hands and saying, ‘we’ll have to wait and see.’
What patience is:
1. Patience is an active emotion. There is an expectancy involved.
2. Patience is an ability you have to bear trials without grumbling — the skill involved in steady perseverance that endures to the end.
3. Patience is a gift from God to you as a believer.
Our God is a God of patience.
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.” Rom.15:5 (NKJ)
Christ is your example.
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” II Thess. 3:5 ( NKJ)
The Holy Spirit is your source.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.” Gal. 5:22, 23 (NKJ)
Patience is a worker in perfecting you.
“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 (NKJ)
I have three reasons for you to grow in your patience ability.
1. To reach maturity for growth in your Christian walk.
2. To be an asset to the body of Christ and not a liability.
3. To finish your race with a ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’
Two thoughts to develop patience within you?
1. Think ‘Long-term’ thoughts.
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Develop a long-term perspective on where you are going which makes it easier to have patience.
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Describe what your result is to be. Then work back to the beginning.
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What your life, health, attitude, and spiritual maturity is now. How should these change over a year?
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Give a thought about your family and how they view you?
2. Think “The Law of the Farm.”
- The law of the harvest – What you sow, you reap.
- Accept the fact that you are a mortal bound by natural laws.
- Miracles are exceptions to fundamental laws.
- Do you live your life always expecting the exception?
- Both natural law and miracles are God-given. Respect both.
Charles Dickens gives excellent insight on the way to nurture your patience with this quote:
“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
Begin each day with a time of reflection.
Each morning my wife and I reflect on the blessings we have during our devotion time. Having a time of reflection sets the tone for our day. This time of reflection extends our patience for future benefits.
For more insight on a related topic read; https://richard-armstrong.com/what-to-do-when-confronted-by-chaos/
Thank you for reading.
I look forward to your comments or insights on my post.
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Richard