When my kids were small, my patience was tried probably every day! Strong willed children can be very challenging. Are we that way to God? Challenging? When I prayed for patience my Bible Study friends’ eyes got big and they shook their heads. “No! You don’t want to pray for patience! That will bring on more challenges!” Uh-oh! Eventually, I learned to be patient with my kids and later when they were older another friend remarked that I had such patience! Ha! It was a God given talent or fruit of the Spirit that God had bestowed on me after lots of testing!
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| Apple Blossoms What kind of fruit is produced in your life? Is it the fruit of patience? |
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 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Patience
in the Old and New Testaments can be identified with the LORD’s Spirit, the
Holy Spirit, rather than
just with Jesus. Patience in the Strong’s Concordance, known as number 3115, is
defined as longsuffering, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance,
and slow to avenge wrongs. These are associated with how one bears troubles. I
guess that includes the Holy Spirit having patience with us, like we read in
the question of the Micah passage below. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit working in
us that produces patience. Without Him, how do people ever have patience? I’ve
seen mothers lose their patience with their kids, particularly in the grocery
store or some department stores where the kids just keep hounding their moms,
or throw a tantrum if they don’t get what they want. What a shame. Parenting
skills are just that…skills. They have to be learned and practiced. The kids
have to be told what is expected of them and then the parents must
intentionally and consistently follow through with enforcing the boundaries
they have established. Not an easy task—but look at how God treated His chosen
people…His family. He told them what was expected of them…and then punished
them when they rebelliously didn’t comply. He does reward for good behavior,
too.
How are you doing with the rules or
directives that God has put before you? Are you grateful for the patience that
the Holy Spirit has with you? What are your plans this month for honoring God—showing
Him that you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…and your
neighbor as yourself?
Should
you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the LORD’s Spirit have patience
with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words
comforting. Micah
2:7
We
prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness,
by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 2 Corinthians 6:6
Prayer
– Lord God, forgive me for my rebellious thoughts, words, and actions. I’m not
always listening to You and obediently responding to Your words. Cleanse my
heart and put a right spirit within me—that I would prove myself by the purity,
understanding, patience, kindness, and sincere love that the Holy Spirit has
put within me. Thank you…for hearing my prayers and for the grace and mercy You
have shown to me and my family.
Meditate.
Consider the patience of the Holy Spirit.
Verses
of Salvation ~ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.
You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You
have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you
the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15
How
can I pray for you? Let me know in the comment section below.
© 2025 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.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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