Five Day Focus: Patience – Day 5: God is the Source of Patience. We Grow In Patience as the Word Grows In Us

Five Day Focus: Patience – Day 5: God is the Source of Patience. We Grow In Patience as the Word Grows In Us

Scripture:

James 1:16-18

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Luke 8:15

¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Romans 15:4-6

⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ⁵ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:9-12

⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

James 3:17-18

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Devotional:

Oh, the beautiful Word of God! The daily soaking in the Presence, and the filling of His Word, are the true Sources of all things missing in our hearts. The same is true for patience. The true Answer to each of my personal challenges is and always will be MORE OF GOD. More of His Word. More of His Presence. He must increase, and I must decrease! (John 3:30). God is always going to be faithful to touch us where we are in need when we choose to reach out to Him for what we need. When we pray according to His Will, when we take the time to truly understand what that Will is, He will answer. He will heal. He will soften hardened places, replace them with fertile soil, and He will plant seeds of righteousness that He will also nurture and cultivate and protect as they grow into the crops and fruit of the Spirit. This may take more time than I want. This may be hard to wait for.

Friends, there is no better pursuit! The walk of faith is a lifelong voyage of adventure. Uphill climbs, mountaintop experiences. Times of rest. Dark valleys that can lead to uncertainty. In it all, God is the great Trail Guide Who will walk through it all with us. He will show us which fork to take He will guide us and protect us in dangerous situations. We are not alone, and He does not expect nor want us to try to figure this out on our own.

When He asks me to be or do something, He also makes it possible. He is the One Who is going to remove the roots underlying my impatience, and He is the One Who will cause patience to grow in its place.

As we close this Focus, I want to thank each of you for walking this road with me. I am honored to serve you as we grow in Him together. I pray that the God of peace will plant it deeply in your hearts, and that each wound underlying impatience will be gently healed. I pray that we will not wallow in shame or condemnation, but will receive the love, grace, forgiveness and mercy that He has in store for us.

You are a precious child of our living God. He has made you in His image. He will not leave you without help! He will not abandon you. You are not alone! We are being perfected, sweet sisters and brothers. You are not where you will be when you meet Him face to face, but you have come this far by His grace, and all that is needed now is to keep pressing in. Do not give up! He will cause it to come to pass.

Prayer:
Father, I thank You that You are the Source, once again. I need You. I can not do this without you. I confess my tendency to try to figure things out on my own, and choose anew this day to lay my life, choices, family, and responsibilities at Your feet. I lift my hands and confess I just can’t do this without You. Patience is my great desire. Let my heart and mind be healed and renewed as I receive the planting of Your Word. Overtake any remaining seeds of pride that might keep me from receiving from You.

Intercession:

Pray over your family, with a prayer journal and/or as the Holy Spirit leads. It helps me to keep track, even on a weekly basis. It is encouraging when I can look back and note problems that God has dealt with, and even when I can see the progress in particularly overwhelming issues. Whatever you do, don’t feel you MUST do these things, because they are a tool. Simply follow God’s lead, and pray for your family! :D

Lord, I once again commit this day to You. I thank You that You are with me always. I bless Your holy Name.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.