Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of Your love. Ephesians 4:2

Dictionary definition of patience:
“The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like”

Patience is a quality that comes naturally to some, but one that must be practiced by others. Most days, I find myself somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, I have to stop myself from thinking that I can do things better, I can do things faster, or that if I do something a certain way, it will be the best way. I don’t always remember to look to God, or sit in his word to help calm my hurried mind. I often find myself being quick to anger, irritable, short tempered simply because I lack patience. God doesn’t want us to feel this way.

In Ephesians 4:2, we read about how God intends us to be: humble, show acceptance and be gentle towards each other as He does for us. God provides each and every one of us these attributes.He helps us realize that this needs to be the way of the world. We as Christians need to be the ones to show each other humility, patience and acceptance. Think of what a better place this world would be if we could all take a step back, look further into ourselves, and treat each other the way that God treats us.

I read a quote once, that said, “Patience with family is love, patience with others is respect, patience with self is confidence and patience with God is faith.”Each and every day we get a fresh start. God has given us a clean slate; a chance to focus on being patient with those we love, those around us, ourselves and most importantly Him. He is the one who we can lean on to help us in the times when we feel our patience is being tested, He is the one who can calm our hearts and minds in an effort to see the good in people and realize that we are not alone, nor are we in charge. God’s patience with us can be the gentle reminder in our everyday hurried lives that He has a plan for us and being faithful to Him will most certainly lead to the most wonderful gift of all.
 
Dear God,
Help us to be patient, humble and kind to others, just as you are for us. Help us to remember that we are all your children. Wrap us in your arms and be with us as we go into the world to do your work and share your love and patience to all.