“Love is Patient...” 1 Corinthians 13:4a (NLT) Patience - when I think about what God’s word says about patience, part of a verse in 1 Corinthians comes to mind: “Love is patient.” In our fast paced society, it is so easy to become impatient, which can lead to anger. The biggest issue here is the consequences of anger, which include thoughts and behaviors that are not in line with how God wants us to think and behave. What consequences have we experienced as a result of our anger? For me, the biggest consequence is feeling bad. Oh, how I despise guilt! I frequently remind myself of two Biblical facts: 1.) We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) 2.) If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:19). When I do get angry, I ask for forgiveness and commit to try harder…and I have made progress! But, going back a step or two, how do we deal with impatience? First, we can work on preventing it. This can be accomplished by slowing down, praying, and focusing on how the Holy Spirit is guiding us to think, feel, and act. Second, it is critical to take time to reduce and relieve stress so that you (okay, we!) are less likely to become impatient. Finally, ask yourself this question: “If the world knows we are Christians by our love, then when we are constantly impatient with others, what message are we sending?” I pray this is motivation for you to work on these emotions that are difficult to master. Give yourself some grace but hold yourself and one another accountable…including me. “Dear Lord, please help me to be more patient so that others will know me as a Christian by my love.” For His Glory Laurel Shaler TRBC Coffee Break
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:30:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015