Sunday, April 21, 2024

Fruit of Spirit – Patience

Prayer – Lord, You are so patient with mankind—giving us so many chances to change our ways, to repent, and to come to You. Thank you for the patience to give to each of us who love You and respond to Your love. Patience--such a good fruit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

 

Meditate. Consider God’s patience with you.

 

Patience in Strongs concordance (G3115) is used biblically as endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, and long-suffering. Most Christians refer to Job when they think or speak of patience. Job patiently endured the trial and tribulations that were set before him—and he never cursed or blamed God for the horrible things that came his way. Actually, God had patience in that situation, too. He allowed Satan to attack Job—His faithful servant—and then God patiently endured the trials along with Job when He could have stepped in and cured all the problems. God is certainly all powerful, but He is also patient and loving.

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:10-11 NLT

Amelia's Eye
Her Self-Portrait

It is hard to watch others go through trial when all you can do is pray. My oldest granddaughter is such an example of patience with the Lord. She’s had juvenile arthritis since before she was two years old—then after a bout of COVID she developed dysautonomia, which is a disease of the autonomic nervous system that affects the heart function, blood pressure, bladder function and digestion. Fainting can be scary—for her and those around her. Now, from that she has acquired gastroparesis, paralysis of the stomach. She had to have a nasal feeding tube, and now a gastrojejunostomy feeding tube. It goes through her abdomen into her stomach and then into her small intestine. She receives nutrients and hydration 24/7 through that tube. Technology is great and Amelia endures pain with the patience of Job. Long-suffering. That describes Amelia—our sweety who just turned 16 years-old yesterday—who consistently gives us a smile via FaceTime. Additionally, she has such a talent--it takes patience to draw as well as she does! The Holy Spirit has definitely blessed her with patience.

 

Verses of Salvation ~ And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:15-18 NLT

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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