Immense Patience
Patience is definitely a fruit of the spirit I intentionally and consciously work on because it's not easy for me. Being patient and practicing patience is so very hard. It's not natural, I can always use more patience. So when I heard the phrase "immense patience" from Bob Goff, as he kept repeating those words, I literally felt the power of the words wash over me. I had an overwhelming sense of immense patience towards myself in my journey towards greater growth in patience. It was liberating. I felt a release. And kind compassion towards myself for the times I blew it and failed to demonstrate patience. Now I can't use the word patience without first saying immense.
Immense patience. Two seemingly simple ordinary words separately, but when put together it powerfully describes patience so well. It gives a word picture and clearly communicates what patience requires from us, of us. The immense (extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree) cost to be patient. It requires discipline, practice, intentionality, work, conscious effort and thought. It requires a part of us - dying to ourselves. It requires humility.
But on the flip side it also beautifully speaks a powerful message to me of the immense (extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree) gain, blessing and joy waiting for me on the other side of demonstrating immense patience or being immensely patient. Same for the receiver of my patience. It’s life giving, strengthening. A breath of fresh air with space to breathe. A second chance with no shame, condemnation.
If we are going to life fruitful and effective lives, we're going to need immense patience. Immense patience towards ourselves, towards one another, towards our situation and circumstances. We need immense patience as we are waiting on God, as we are in the process of spiritual transformation and sanctification. We need immense patience with and in our marriage, with and towards our children. Life requires immense patience.
Immense patience demonstrates our trust in God. Immense patience speaks to God's redemptive power. Immense patience gives space for growth. Immense patience reminds us we are all imperfect humans and God has the final say. There is nothing more loving than demonstrating immense patience, God’s grace.
Today I am incredibly grateful that God knew it would not be easy so he gave us Jesus as our example and advocate. He also gives us his spirit who empowers, enables and helps us to do what we cannot do on our own. To live lives with immense patience. Before I speak, before I respond, before I react may I first utter a prayer. A prayer for the same immense patience that God demonstrated and demonstrates towards me to be the same immense patience that flows out of me and from me.
Immense patience. Two seemingly simple ordinary words separately, but when put together it powerfully describes patience so well. It gives a word picture and clearly communicates what patience requires from us, of us. The immense (extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree) cost to be patient. It requires discipline, practice, intentionality, work, conscious effort and thought. It requires a part of us - dying to ourselves. It requires humility.
If we are going to life fruitful and effective lives, we're going to need immense patience. Immense patience towards ourselves, towards one another, towards our situation and circumstances. We need immense patience as we are waiting on God, as we are in the process of spiritual transformation and sanctification. We need immense patience with and in our marriage, with and towards our children. Life requires immense patience.
Immense patience demonstrates our trust in God. Immense patience speaks to God's redemptive power. Immense patience gives space for growth. Immense patience reminds us we are all imperfect humans and God has the final say. There is nothing more loving than demonstrating immense patience, God’s grace.
Today I am incredibly grateful that God knew it would not be easy so he gave us Jesus as our example and advocate. He also gives us his spirit who empowers, enables and helps us to do what we cannot do on our own. To live lives with immense patience. Before I speak, before I respond, before I react may I first utter a prayer. A prayer for the same immense patience that God demonstrated and demonstrates towards me to be the same immense patience that flows out of me and from me.
Prayer for Spiritual Growth
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,[e] 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[f] to share in the saints’[g] inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. 14 We have redemption,[h] the forgiveness of sins, in Him. (Colossians 1:9-14 HCSB)
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