Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The fourth “Fruit of the Spirit” listed is patience. Patience is allowing God to do what He says He is going to do. We often say things like “patience is a virtue” and “good things come to those who wait”. While we might say those things, we don’t usually live like we really believe it. We tend to be pretty impatient with people and with things that seem to keep us from having what we want when we want it.
We might think impatience is a quaint little quirk in our character, but its just another indicator that we are out of step with the Spirit.
We need to understand that learning to wait is part of God’s plan. God is not on “human standard time”. He is eternal and He is not in a hurry. God wants the fruit of patience to be developed in our lives. Patience is so helpful in realizing that the world does not revolve around us. It is His story.
James 5:7-8 (NIV)
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Depend on the Holy Spirit to produce this fruit in your life, by yielding the control of your daily life and each situation to Him, allowing Him to be patient through you.
Colossians 1:10-11 (NIV)
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
So, during this week, let’s keep our eyes open for opportunities to grow – not only in love, joy and peace, but also in patience!
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
