Day nine

Another fairly late post, but I'm making it on time on the West Coast.

Everyone has those days where it seems like everything that happens has to happen in the most difficult way possible. Today was one of those days for me. I won't go into detail, but I need to remember that God had a purpose in those difficulties. I'm not going to say that it didn't make for a frustrating day, but that I need to stop and see what God is doing in me.

Lately, I've been praying to The Lord that He would give me a more humble heart. At the same time, it seems like more things are trying my patience. Galatians 5 :22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law". While I can see the fruit in my life, I can also see more and more where I need to grow.

 I struggle mightily with patience; my patience is shamefully short. I've really only begun to see how patience and humility go hand in hand. Humility is putting others before yourself, and that inherently demands patience. We as Christians are called to humility regardless of circumstance, and there are times when those circumstances are difficult or uncomfortable.

I am by no means holding myself up as a model of patience simply because I know these things; there's a difference between knowledge and application. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 reminds believers that we are to be patient with everyone (I had to look up this verse). God has been making me more patient with others, far more than I ever was when I was unsaved. But I also realize that God is showing me the depth of my impatience so that  I may repent and turn from it.

Lord, help me to turn from wrath and impatience; help me to cultivate love and patience. Amen.