Patience (Part 2)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is... PATIENCE..." Galatians 5:22 

Last week I listed a bunch of verses on patience.  Below are a few commentaries I have on a few of the verses listed last week. Please feel free to share your insights and findings on your favorite verses on patience!

Proverbs 19:11: Overlooking a wrong in the sense of not allowing it to bother you/annoy you is something we all need to learn early in life.  This prevents strife and anger from getting the best of us.  Patience when teaching someone how to do something (even if they don't do it right the first "few" times) is a great way to learn how to be patient in this way.

Proverbs 25:15: Patience when trying to persuade someone can be very productive.  When someone doesn't immediately see something the way you do, try to explain it in a calm and peaceful manner.  Not only will this avoid strife, but when they see how you approach them with your idea or point of view they will be more apt to agree with you.

Ecclesiastes 7:8: Pretty self explanatory.  I love the way the "New Living Translation" says this.

Romans 2:4: God is patient with us; and He is our ultimate example.  Thus, we should follow that example by being patient with others.

2 Corinthians 6:6: The Holy Spirit will help us develop the "Fruit of the Spirit" qualities.  We should strive to listen to the Holy Spirit and ask for help in learning to apply them to our everyday life.

Colossians 1:11: Patience can help us handle persecution, which in turn can help us be great witnesses for the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:12: A lot of these are "Fruits of the Spirit"... Things that are listed multiple times must be pretty important.  If we act on these "Fruits", we will be following God's plan for us, and we'll be good examples to others.

1 Timothy 1:16: God was so patient with Saul (who later became known as the Apostle Paul).  And look what this led to!  A transformation that only God could produce, and one of the greatest apostles of all time!

Hebrews 6:12: In your patience don't sit around and do nothing.  Even though you might be waiting for that special someone to come into your life, or for that next job opportunity, that doesn't' give us an excuse to sit around and do nothing.  We need to use what we have right now to be the best light we can be for our Lord and Savior!

2 Peter 3:15: While we might be ready to give up on someone, God has other plans.  When asking yourself why God doesn't take that terrible person out of your working environment, why so and so  doesn't get fired, or why the teacher in your classroom is so annoying, use these opportunities to enlarge God's Kingdom.  Maybe that person is there for you to be a witness to?  Or maybe your "annoying" term paper (on the worst book you've ever read) is exactly what that teacher needs to read.  

We are never sure who is watching us here on earth, but we can always be sure God is watching.  Let's be sure to develop those wonderful characteristics instead of the not so wonderful ones.  I don't know about you, but I want to be come a "Proverbs 31 Woman" for my future husband.  I don't want him to regret marrying me because I didn't take the time in my singleness to develop my "Fruits of the Spirit".  Who do you want to become?  It takes work and perseverance to become Christ-like.  I think this is a worthy thing to work towards.

Blessings!

~ S*

Patience (Part 1)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is... PATIENCE..." Galatians 5:22 

Below are some verses on patience for you to look up and study this week.  Next week I will go through some of them with a little commentary of my own.  Please feel free to share some of your commentary on these verses or add some scriptures that you think pertain to this topic during this week and next by commenting below or e-mailing me at girlbiblestudy@hotmail.com.

Scriptures for this week:

Proverbs 19:11, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (NIV) or the (NLT): "Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs."

Proverbs 25:15, "Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones." (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:8, "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." (NLT)

Romans 2:4, "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" (NLT)

2 Corinthians 6:6, "We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love." (NLT)

Colossians 1:11, "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy," (NLT)

Colossians 3:12, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (NIV)

1 Timothy 1:16, "But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life." (NLT)

Hebrews 6:12, "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (NIV)

2 Peter 3:15, "And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him--" (NLT)

Other Scriptures to look up:

2 Timothy 3:10

Titus 2:2

James 5:10

2 Peter 1:5-7

I look forward to your insights!!

Blessings!

~ S*

I'm Back!!!

I’ve been on vacation and on dog sitting jobs for the last few weeks.  And I always tend to stay away from writing and stuff when I am away from home.  Sorry Guys...  (Today's post was on my heart to share, so we will get back to the Fruit of the Spirit next week!)

“Lord, please forgive me when I am busy.  Please show me how to balance out my busy life in a way that puts You first.  My desire is to put You first in everything I say and do, but it doesn’t always play out that way.”

I have been discovering recently how irreverent I am toward God.  It hasn’t been intentional, but at the same time, I hadn’t noticed nor done anything about it.  I don’t really know how to be fully reverent.  I feel like I live in a bubble and really have no idea what is going on around me. (and I kinda like it that way at times.)  We as humans are so naïve when it comes to God and who He is.  We cannot begin to fathom His Awesomeness.  He created heaven and earth.  He created me!  He created everyone.  He can heal, He can save, and He can deliver… We can do all things through HIM who gives us strength(Philippians 4:13).  He deserves so much more praise and honor and glory than He gets. 

We do not even come close to deserving His redemption/salvation.  And that is something I have struggled to grasp.  I would consider myself a “good” person.  I am obedient; I respect my parents and elders.  I don’t have sex outside of marriage… The list goes on... BUT!  “Only God is good.” (Luke 18:19)  Even though I follow things to the best of my ability I am whale poo compared to God.  Nothing I could possibly do in word or deed could measure up (even slightly) to God and His greatness.  Even pondering a sin or the simple act of lusting is a huge sin in God’s eyes(Matthew 5:28).  This should make us so thankful for what Jesus did for us on the cross over 2000 years ago.  He paid the ultimate price for me, so that my sins would be washed away (never to be remembered again) from God’s memory.  I am no longer that sinner to Him!  How Awesome is that!?!

I still can’t fathom how great God is, or even how great the sacrifice Jesus made is.  But I am going to be thankful for it.  And I desire to turn my "taking it all for granted" into praising and thanking God for what He has done for me.

“I love You, Lord.  Please teach me not to take Jesus’ sacrifice for granted.  Please give me boldness for the kingdom of God.  Help me to be a good example to those around me, for I have been lacking in that area a bit recently.  I desire to serve You and please You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name, SO BE IT!!!”

Blessings!

~ S*