Hosanna Restoration Church

James 1:3 tells us to let patience have her perfect work in us. If we are going to stand firm for Christ, then we are going to have walk in that fruit of the spirit for sure. Isn’t it comforting to know that God has given us the ability to stand firm? Since we know this, then we also know that He has given us patience. It seems that they run off from time to time, but like all things from God, He puts it in us so that we can work it out.

As we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord it seems to me that if we are not careful our patience can become shorter instead of longer. When I was first saved and did not know as much about the promises and the workings of God, I was content to just wait and figure it would all work out just the way God wanted. But now as I have come to know more and expect more, I find that I am not always as content to just wait. I spend a lot of time checking to see if God really wants me to wait. The word of God encourages us to wait expectantly for God answer our prayers. For this reason we anticipate a quick reply and I do believe that is what God expects from us. Still, we need to wait patiently as we stand firm and confident.

I really do not find it difficult to be patient with the Lord. The place I run into problems is remaining patient with others while I wait on Him. In other words, when I am waiting for God to do what I have asked, it takes a greater effort to practice the presence of God with those around me. It is a place where I have to work on letting patience have her perfect work in me.

As we are practicing patience, we need to be careful that we don’t just back up and do nothing and declare it as being patient and waiting on the Lord. Sometimes people will even go so far as to give up on what they believe God said and end up frustrated with Him. It may be that they need to continue to seek Him and make sure that they did not miss something. Sometimes there is an action required on our part. For instance, someone may be in need of a financial answer from God. So they wait and nothing happens and they wonder why God is not doing anything. It could be because God needs something to work with. He may be waiting for us to plant a seed. You can’t have a harvest without planting seeds. Usually if something is holding up answers to prayer, it has more to do with us than with God. He is always faithful.

The good news remains that God has given us what we need to stand firm. Putting our faith into practice means doing whatever is necessary to see the word of God fulfilled in our lives and the lives of those around us. I am sure you know by now that patience plays a big part in maintaining peace within ourselves and with those around us.