One of the definitions of patience is LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG-Suffering. When is long suffering, TOO-LONG-suffering? God is right on time, though I must say, in my exoerience, sometimes if feels as though He is taking a bit too long. But that's according to MY time.
Abraham & Sarah must have felt that God’s timing for the fulfillment of the promise was a bit too-long. Or the Israelites who waited 400 years in spiritual darkness before Jesus broke-through with His glorious light! They must have struggled with patience, and that was indeed loooooong-suffering.
Patience, the Hebrew word is makrothumia; Strong’s #3115:
From makros, “long,” and thurmos, “temper.” The word denotes lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering. Also included in makrothumia is the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. This quality is a fruit of the spirit.
God is patient with us, and when we abide in His Spirit, we have His supernatural gift of patience.
“I waited and waited and waited for God. At last He looked; finally He listened.” (Psalm 40:1 The Message)
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12 NKJV)
On the tenth day of Christmas, we give our True Love ...the gift of divine Patience.
Patient God, we pray for our future (or existing) spouses, that You will deliver to them an extra measure of patience and long suffering by Your Spirit ~
- that they will be lenient with others
- exercise restraint when provoked
- have fortitude and patient endurance
Just as we have been waiting and waiting and waiting, the other person has been waiting too.
Thank you LORD for sending the comforter to them while they wait with patience for us! Thank you UPS Man, for Uniting us by the Presence of Your Holy Spirit!
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
AMEN! It is firmly, truly so!
Expecting to be amazed ~
Barbara
© Barbara Nelson – 2012
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