1. Get a Clear Picture of Yourself. “The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). One of the reasons we get
so impatient is our pride. We mistakenly believe that everything depends on us.
Our self-importance sends us scurrying about in a frantic pace to complete all
the things that only we can do. Develop patience by realizing that we don’t have
to do everything. With pride out of the way we can delegate to others and learn
to relax.
2. Let the Fruit Grow. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…”
(Galatians 5:22). An aspect of the Spirit’s produce is patience. If we are allowing
Him to have control of our lives then composure will be an unforced response.
Our flesh causes us to get uptight. Our worldly thinking blossoms impatience.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18 that we are to get filled with the Spirit. He means
that every area of our lives is to be intoxicated with His power.
3. One Thing Leads to Another. “And we pray this in order that you may live a
life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every
good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power
according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:10-12). Patience
grows in our lives when we live according to God’s will, do good, increase our
knowledge of Him, and depend on His power for strength. Take each of those items
out of our life and it’s no wonder we feel perturbed.
4. Put it On. “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians
3:12). What did you wear today? What shirt did you choose? Chances are that you
personally picked out your wardrobe. It was your choice. God tells us that patience
is a choice as well. We can choose to put it on as part of our spiritual clothing,
or leave it off and allow our fretfulness to remain exposed.
5. Jesus’ Perspective. “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in
me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as
an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (I Timothy
1:16). Paul believed that his acceptance into the kingdom provided an example
of God’s unlimited patience. Since the Lord had such patience waiting on us to
come to Him, we need to have the same patience when dealing with others. Paul
wrote in Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.”
6. Pray About Everything. “Worry about nothing, pray about everything” (Philippians
4:6). Everything? Yep. In other words, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians
5:17). In our haste to do everything ourselves we either forget to pray or don’t
feel like it is important enough. But God said pray about everything. There is
no other way to interpret that except to do what He says. And in doing so we will
find contentment and peace.
7. Picture Noah. “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,
rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction” (II Timothy
4:2). Noah preached for 120 years without a single response. That’s patience.
We never see him questioning God. We never see him asking for a miracle to speed
up the building process.
As we try to show Jesus to others discouragement can seep in when responses are
few or nonexistent. In those times we need to remember our ark building friend
who continued in God’s will despite the lack of interest of his neighbors.
8. Don’t Get Lazy. “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who
through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:12). Sometimes
we try to get patience by procrastinating or erasing our to do list. Instead of
working diligently toward the goal, we eliminate the goal and sit back. The Father
warns us that laziness does not equal patience. In the place of laziness we need
to draw on the experience of those who have packed schedules, yet refused to get
burdened.
9. Prophet Patience. “Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10). Read the Old
Testament prophets and you’ll learn about having a bad day. God lets us know that
seeing how they handled the pressures of life will give us insight and hope.
10. Care Casting. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (I
Peter 5:17). A lack of patience can be summed up as a lack of trust in God. We
try to handle everything because we don’t believe He will come through for us.
Peter makes it clear, we need to cast, to throw, everything His way because of
His love for us.
