Life with Patience
Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.
Proverbs 15:8
Yesterday I was driving to a Bible class that I teach at 1:30 and I was starting to get impatience because of traffic. I was not pleased with my impatience, because I have experienced the peace and joy of slowing down inside. I often imagine what it would be like to have perfect patience.
We live in a fast paced society, and our life is on a time schedule every day. For example: time to be at work, time to be at the doctor’s office, time to complete grocery shopping, time to have dinner ready, time for the TV show, and a deadline to complete the project. I have often heard the phrase, “time is money,” and money has high priority forcing schedules. So how do we live in a fast paced world and maintain a patience attitude?
Does being patience mean we slow down, or does it mean we work more efficiently and maintain inner peace by having a patience attitude? Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24). If we do everything with all our heart, asking the Lord for his guidance and help, how might this change our attitude?
If we have peace inside by trusting the Lord for his help, it can reduce the stress of being impatience. Stress symptoms can affect our body, our thoughts, our attitude. Impatience produces stress to some level in everyone, and if the stress is prolonged or severe it can hinder our performance. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) If you find yourself impatience with some level of stress, quote the above scripture, seek to relax, and realize impatience is reinforced because it is normally a habit. When we are patience we work more efficiently and achieve the task in the same time, or even less time.
Developing patience requires learning to override the emotion, and seeking Godly peace and wisdom. We can learn to master patience and still live in a world filled with schedules and deadlines. I have personally found walking with patience, being calm inside and doing everything for the Lord, helped me on the job resulting in better performance reviews. I have found that with patience my level of stress is greatly reduced, helping me to work more efficiently, and with peace and joy from the Spirit.
Today make an effort to be patience, especially when driving. Impatience can easily steal our peace and joy, and replace with anger. This is exactly what Satan wants for us, filled with impatience, anger, and stress. Choose to be victorious today and live with peace and joy and refuse to let the world control you, by doing everything for our Lord.. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Practice being more patience and be free, and don’t be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be patience in all circumstances, maintaining a heart of love, peace, and joy. Guide my heart to do everything for your glory and to seek your help and guidance. Thank you for your love, peace, and joy through the Spirit and for saving me. I have peace knowing you will guide me through this brief temporary life to my heavenly home. In Jesus name, Amen