Love is patient
I Corinthians 13:4
Bottom Line
Patience helps us see and love people for who they are, not who we think they should be.
Growing in Patience
- Receive God’s patient love for you
- Pay attention to how you talk to yourself
- Deal with what’s underneath your impatience
- Hold your judgments more loosely
- Put yourself in someone else’s shoes
- Give yourself the margin to have patience
- Take a break and apologize when you blow it
- Flex your patience muscle
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:16
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-13
Flexing your patience muscle
- Practice silence and contemplative prayer
- Slow yourself down
- Have children
- Leave your phone in your pocket when you wait for something
- Stop multi tasking
- Wait to buy something
- Engage in activities that force you to be patient
- Reframe struggles as opportunities to practice patience
Action Steps
Prayerful Reflection
- Do you view God as patiently loving towards you? Why or why not?
- How patient are you? With others? With yourself?
- What’s usually underneath your impatience? What might God want you to know about that?
Practice
- Choose something from the list above and do it!
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