Are you a patient person?

Are you a patient person? Ask yourself these questions. Do you get made if—–

Do you tap your foot while bread is in the toaster trying to get it to pop up? I know I have done so.
Or if someone is driving on the on ramp and they don’t understand they’re supposed to come to full speed to enter the highway? That certainly gets to me!
When someone is going slow in the passing lane on the highway, do you get mad at the driver? I am guilty!
If you’ve ever been pregnant, do you get very impatient in the ninth month? I know I did, especially when you’re ninth month is in the middle of a hot summer!
When you’re behind someone in the checkout area of a grocery store, or any other store, and the person in front of you is slow or needs special assistance with an item, or the price is not listed on the item and the checkout person has to leave to find the price does that drive you nuts? Do you leave that aisle and go find a faster one? Guilty!
Do you get irritated when God says to wait? What about when He says no? I know I have!
Add your own struggle with patience.

I have mentioned before that MS means Made Strong for me. How can I say that? For one it has made me more patient. Patient with myself when I can’t do something that I used to, patient with others when I want them to hurry up, and more patient on the road while driving.

I’ve know that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians, along with love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. But I never thought that I could (or should) ask for and receive patience as I’m driving or shopping. Those are definitely the worst places for me for my impatience to show up.

The New Testament is full of admonitions to be patient. Here are some of them:

Romans 15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
2 Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
James 1:3-4 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I am encouraged by these Scriptures because even though I know that I struggle with patience, I can also rely on God’s word to guide me. I am reminded that God is patient with me, I am to be patient in tribulations, needs and distresses, I should have patience with joy (really?), I can pray that Jesus guides my heart to have His patience, I am to pursue patience, and my faith should produce patience.

There is a lot of discussion lately about mindfulness. It only works, if your mindfulness is stayed on something positive. Negative mindfulness will only breed negativity! It is the same for the idea that practice makes perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.

When I practice mindfulness, I am remembering Scripture or seeking out new Scriptures that help me stay in God’s presence. It is only with His help, that I can be patient with myself and others. How about you?