PATIENCE

I Was Just Thinking About – PATIENCE.

One of the more evasive areas in our lives is that of patience and endurance. Many times, the Scriptures address the subject of patient endurance but these words are not always remembered or implemented in the details of our lives.

When my wife and I were preparing for marriage, some Biblical passages became our focal point. One is, Psalm 37:4-7 (ASV), “DELIGHT yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. COMMIT your way to the LORD, TRUST also in Him, and He will do it…REST in the LORD and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him.” Another was, Hebrews 12:1-2 (ASV), “Let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith.”

Psalm 37 makes reference for one’s ongoing perspective and practice in life. It includes phrases such as, “Do not fret” and (verse 8 - NLT), “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm.” Just think if the person given to spousal abuse would embrace these words what a difference it would make in the intimate and inter-personal relationship of the married man and woman! Just think of the children who would be safer if anger, rage and temper was not what they were subjected to, but rather their experiencing love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, Biblical instruction and a godly example of the parent(s). Just think about the lives that would be spared if the knee-jerk reaction on the highway or roads toward road-rage was brought into subjection to the above verses.

Hebrews 10:36 (ASV) reminds us all, “For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.” The NLT renders this verse, “PATIENT ENDURANCE is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” I need this reminder in my life. Do these words from God’s Word have any application for you and your responses to life’s experience and responsibilities?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!

-->