Patience Makes You Strong In Character - No. 09

We need God’s strength moment by moment, don’t’ we? We need it physically, emotionally and spiritually. When we read about being strengthened by His glorious power, we often think of being strengthened to do mighty works and miracles. But in this Scripture God specifically tells us why He strengthens us. He strengthens us to be patient and longsuffering in our daily tasks – and joyful too! Now that’s different to what we expected, isn’t it?

The MLB translates it, "unlimited patience"! Wow! We have no patience of ourselves, but God’s patience is unlimited. God has promised to touch us with His glorious power so we can exercise His unlimited patience in our lives.

This reminds me of James 1:3,4, "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." The strange thing is, most of the time we are not patient enough to let patience have its full work! We give up before God has finished working out in our lives what He wants to accomplish.

I love how The Living Bible puts it, "When the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete."

Dear mother, don’t despair when everything is going wrong. Rejoice. Let God work out His patience in you. This is how He will make you strong in character. God doesn’t want to do a half-work in you, but a full-grown work!

I wonder what will happen in your life this week? I’m sure there will be opportunities for God to work His patience in you. Be watching for them and don’t hinder God doing what He wants to do in your life.

Love in Jesus, NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, You are full of patience – and You live in me! Thank you that You are working out your patience in me each day. Help me to let You do your full work in my life. Amen."