Is Patience Inaction? – Day 12

Truth:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

Is patience the same as inaction?

Patience is releasing your will so God’s will can be done through you.  God’s will has moments of sitting still – Jesus always spent time alone with God. When we choose to do the same… to discipline ourselves to sit still longer than fifteen minutes… we learn to move to the rhythms of His grace.

His rhythm seldom means inaction. Even when we wait on God, we must choose to wait with expectation. We know He’s good and is the giver of good gifts. We know He won’t give His children a stone when they ask for bread, or a serpent when they ask for a fish.

Patience becomes real when our timetables get set aside for God’s timetable. If God wasn’t patient with us – not wanting for any to perish – none of us would be here.

It’s His patience with us that we need to reflect to the part of the world that is away from the Son.

How do we do that?

We show love. Remember, it’s the antidote to negativity. Love is patient. It is kind. It reflects who God is – as do all the fruit of the Spirit we’re growing in our lives.

Don’t worry, if not today, soon, you will have opportunity for your faith to be tested to produce even more patience. Today you’ll need to choose to be patience to others, and so doing, show God’s love to them.

Prayer:

Lord I know that You are patient with me and I know I haven’t been patient with (insert the names). Thank You that You’ll help me become more like You. Thank You that You’re helping me to show Your love to others. I choose to be patient today and always. Help me to be patient to bring glory to You.

Challenge:

Go the speed limit today. Stop at all red lights. Change your schedule so that you’re not in a rush. Slow down and show patience for others.

Declaration:

I choose to reflect the light of the Son to the side of the world that’s away from the Son. I choose to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.