Patience: Our Strength in the Waiting |
|
| Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. ~ David McCullough, Jr. Watch the Cookies Bake But the fruit of the Spirit is... patience. — Galatians 5:22 Patience is my least favorite word in the English language. If you were to ask anyone in my family or someone who works with me, most likely they would acknowledge that while I have gifts and have worked hard to develop the fruit of the Spirit, patience is the one thing that still feels like it's in embryonic form. I feel sure somewhere in my spirit this seed is just waiting to sprout, but I know from the times when my patience has been tested that it has yet to come into full bloom. It's not because I haven't fertilized it and watered it faithfully, because I have. For years. With the Word and in everyday situations I face. When I'm stuck in traffic. When I'm waiting because my flight has been delayed — again. When I'm waiting in the car in the driveway for the girls to come get in. We've all been there, right? Still, it remains a struggle. Even when I do something as basic as baking cookies, my lack of patience can get the best of me — and the cookies. |
|
|
I'm so grateful that God is patient. |
I'm so grateful that God is patient. |
|
|
To this day, when my girls smell cookies baking, they come rushing to the kitchen because they know I'm going to do one of two things. I'm either going to pull them out too soon because I've got things to do and I can't stand waiting one more minute on them, or I'm going to wander off and start doing something else I need to do and completely forget about them. So I specialize in either cookies that are the equivalent of warm dough or ones that are more than well done, perhaps with some burned edges as a bonus. Suffice it to say, it's best that I leave the cookie-baking to Catherine and Sophia. I have good intentions but not enough patience. What about you? What are the things that try your patience? What stretches you to grow more of this fruit of the Spirit in your life? I'll admit that my first thought every time my patience is tried is not to grow and develop more fruit, but overall I have grown significantly through the years of my life. And I have used many a trying moment as an opportunity to change. - I'm so grateful that God is patient, and He is patient with me as I keep working on this.
He's patient with you too. As you move through your day and things start to try your patience, recognize it as an opportunity to develop more of the fruit God wants to grow in you. Recognize it as another way you build endurance so you can keep moving forward full of vitality and strength, fulfilling all that God's called you to do. Even if it's something as simple as watching the cookies bake until they are just right. Heavenly Father, please help me in the everyday moments when my patience is tried. Help me recognize the opportunity before me to develop more of this fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen. |
|
|
Are you patient? Better question - would the people in your life describe you as patient? Even if the answer is "not at all", God wants to grow you in patience, to teach you to wait on Him, and for you to enjoy life in the waiting! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you on becoming patient! ~ Devotionals Daily |
|
|
A dose of daily endurance so you can keep moving forward with perseverance |
You're Not Finished Yet: 100 Devotions for Building Strength and Faith for Your Journey |
|
|
+ Free shipping with code EBFS23 |
+ Free shipping with code EBFS23 |
Are you facing a difficult season? Do your prayers feel unanswered? The middle of any endeavor—career, relationships, ministry, health—is often when our perseverance waivers, when peace seems out of reach, when the future feels uncertain. It's when life really gets hard. In this empowering devotional, bestselling author, human rights activist, and international speaker Christine Caine reminds you that you can go the distance—not because you have the strength but because God does. As Christine shares stories from her ministry experience, her personal life, her walk with Jesus, and her hikes through the mountains of Southern California, Christine offers Scripture and spiritual reflections to help you: - Intentionally journey with Jesus even when you feel discouraged
- Rely on God's strength in seasons of waiting
- Keep praying, seeking, walking with Jesus every day
- Focus your mind on spiritual practices that bring peace
| |
|
| God is bigger than fear or shame or that voice in your head that whispers that you are not enough, too broken, or too flawed. In this daily devotional Christine Caine encourages you to find confidence to live as the person God created you to be. Join Him in a closer relationship--one rooted in truth and Unshakeable. |
|
|
| Discover a life of resilient hope and develop the endurance you need to keep moving forward in life--one mountain at a time--through this 100-day devotional journey from bestselling author, speaker, and activist Christine Caine. |
|
|
| Your best days are ahead of you, not behind you. It may not always seem like it, look like it, or feel like it—but it's true. Christine Caine wants to see you step into a life that is greater than you could ever hope, think, or imagine - even when things are hard. |
|
|
The FaithGateway Annual Early Bird Christmas Sale is happening now! Explore exclusive, once-a-year discounts on inspirational books and gifts for the Christmas season. Spread the spirit of Hope and Joy and save BIG. Enjoy incredible savings of up to 55% off must-have gifts and exclusive bundles. Act quickly, some items are in limited supply - scoop them up while you can! Plus get FREE SHIPPING through 10/13 with code EBFS23 |
|
|
this devotion with someone who needs it today |
|
|
*Sale price ends on 10/31/23 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. *FREE U.S. shipping on orders with code EBFS23 valid through 10/13/23 until 11:59pm ET, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. *eBook and audiobook purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose. Please note that: - To access your eBooks, you can download the free Glose app or read instantly in your browser by creating a Glose account using the same email address you use to purchase the eBooks.
- eBooks fulfilled through Glose cannot be printed, downloaded as PDF, or read in other digital readers (like Kindle or Nook).
- For more information about how to access eBooks purchased on this site, click here for our FAQs.
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment