“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gal.5:22-23.
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that every believer must learn to develop fully if he is to
grow in faith. The currency with which we access the things God has provided for us
through grace is Faith. “Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in
which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom.5:2. Patience and faith
work together and neither of them can work in isolation. “Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb.10:35-36
Trials provide opportunity for patience to grow. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-5. NIV. Trials present opportunity for
patience to grow. An opportunity not utilized is an opportunity wasted and leads to
stagnation for there cannot be progress until opportunities are utilized.
For your patience to grow you must discipline your body to do what it should and not
what it wants to do. “Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do
what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise, I fear that after enlisting others for the
race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.” 1Cor.9:27 TLB. This
requires that in the face of trial you decide to rejoice even though your flesh wants to
complain. When your flesh wants to quit you decide to persevere.
As your patience is growing it is working in you maturity especially in the area of faith
bringing you to the place where you have no lack because all things are possible to him
that believes.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
If you are inpatient you can settle for something less than God’s best for you. Like an
athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it
wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be
declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.