Patience

"By your patience possess your souls." (Luke 21:19 NKJ)

Patience is a virtue. We all know it, we just don't want to be patient while learning the virtue. It seems that in the North American cultures, we have distilled an entitlement attitude. We want what we want -- immediately -- without waiting for the desire to arrive. It's as if others should anticipate our every desire and have it there before we even ask.

The best seats in any event. The best tables at our favorite restaurant. The best seats on the tour bus. The best rooms in our motels on the best beach at the best vacation spot. No aggravation or frustration or problems or sickness or pain or stress. It stresses me just to consider all the issues involved.

I wonder if there will be any lines in heaven. We know that tears, sorrows, sickness, pain, death and farewells will not exist in that celestial city. Will we need patience there? Will self-discipline be required there or will we be eternally spoiled brats?

Of course, this issue is settled here and now, not after we arrive in the celestial hereafter. The point is that I must consider my "patience quotient" in this present world. Some precious old saint decreed, "Don't pray for patience, because you'll get trouble." Yet, I know that without troubles and sorrows and  such like, I'll never learn this valuable virtue.

Love is patient and kind and gentle (1 Corinthians 13:4). I conclude that in order for me to be truly loving,  -- as Christ loved -- I must ask the Spirit of God to develop this marvelous virtue (patience) in me. I certainly want to be gentle and kind. I truly want to show Christ's love.

Dear Father, thank you for loving us so much that you patiently gave your Son to die in our place. May we patiently submit to the Holy Spirit's developmental work in our lives. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Develop patience today,