Patience, my dear friend!

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is also part of our journey to maturity. If you think about it, most things in life that have great value need for you to have patience in order to acquire it, ie: future spouse, college degree, a good meal that takes a long time to cook, losing 50 pounds, your once a year vacation, etc. Most people understand that, yet most are terribly impatient, and in the process, make many mistakes because they refuse to wait until the right time, or until they are truly prepared for it. Romans 15:5 says: “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.” God is patient and longsuffering with us. We have to determine to be patient in our journey as well. When we move too quickly, we can actually sin, and miss our true mark. Abraham was impatient with God’s promise, and instead of waiting for the manifestation of the promised child, he went ahead and had a child with another woman. This decision is still creating great problems around the world. Patience is deciding not to jump into something just because everyone else is doing it. It’s deciding to hold your actions, decisions and energy until the right time and place that will reap the maximum benefits for all. That my dear friend, is true maturity and power!

James 1:4 “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Think before you do this!

I remember so many moments that I simply let anger have its way with me. I would say and do things that I would later regret. The repercussions even  caused me embarrassment at times. I have lost friends due to reacting in a moment of anger. Fortunately, my errors have not landed me in jail or caused me to lose my life. I have heard about people that are in prison because of a moment of uncontrolled anger. Anger is a master emotion. It can be a good servant, but it is a bad master. Sometimes you have to get angry enough to change a habit; to stop a bully; to impel you to do something that you have been putting off for some time. Use anger positively. Don’t allow anger to use you. The New Living Translation says, “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4: 26-27), Today, when I feel anger welling up within me, I have learned to not speak or act rashly in that state. I wait several minutes until I regain my composure, then I can deal with the issue with a clear head. Don’t allow one moment of anger to destroy a lifetime.

Proverbs 14:17 – Short-tempered people do foolish things, and schemers are hated.