PASSIONATE PATIENCE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

I laugh at that new commercial where the fella is on hold and ends up engaging in all sorts of stuff while he waits.

Here is the extended version of it. 

We have all been there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfREq3kovME

Patience is tough.

But I heard somewhere that PATIENCE is a virtue and it is something that LORD wants to birth in us all.

So, don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others...2 Peter 1:5 (MSG)

But we are often inclined to go the other way.

Instead of developing patience we express some real attitude gems.

Things like irritation. That is a good one.

How about agitation? That never happens does it?

How about frustration? That is a sweet little by-product of impatience now isn't it?

Just last night while at dinner with my wife I was “having some form of all of those” as she and I are waiting for some “next steps”.

Yet GOD says wait. Why?

Because BLESSING and STRENGTH come to those who learn to wait.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, WAITING at my doorposts. Proverbs 8:34 (NASB)

Watching. Waiting. Listening = blessing.

Watching waiting and listening = strength.

But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. - Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) 

That is the strength needed to endure the waiting!

Not surprisingly, GOD brought clarity to one of Beth and my next steps almost minutes after praying for the patience to trust him.

So, remember today when you are tempted to become impatient or agitated, the Lord looks favorably on those who are steadfast in the waiting. 

Even those of us who aren’t good at it. 

Newton said, If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been due more to patient attention, than to any other talent

And here is a little prayer to help...

…May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)

Have a BLESSED WEEKEND!!!

Love all of you

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE