Have patience, my friend, have patience;
For Rome wasn’t built in a day!
You wear yourself out for nothing
In many and many a way!
Why are you nervous and fretty
When things do not move along fast?
Why let yourself get excited
Over things that will soon be past?
(Gertrude Tooley Buckingham)
As is often the case, the more I studied this topic, the more I realized I needed it. Often I blame my impatience on being tired, overwhelmed, short on time, or hungry. In other words, I find it easy to be patient until I’m not. I can’t believe it took me so long to Bible-mark this topic. Obviously, I need to have these Scriptures at the ready and read them often!
In the front of your Bible, write:
Patience- Psa. 37:7-9
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
Underline “wait patiently for Him” and “wait for the Lord.”
Circle both occurrences of the word “fret.”
In the margin next to it, write what that Hebrew word means, “to become hot; angry.”
At the end of the verse, write Ecc. 7:8,9.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
Underline “patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.”
Draw a squiggly line under the heart challenge, “do not be eager in your heart to be angry.”
At the end of the verse, write 1 Cor. 13:4.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant…
Underline “love is patient.”
The first three verses of this chapter teach that our good works are worthless if they are not done with love. And love is patient. I don’t want to undo any attempts at goodness by my own impatience!
At the end of the verse, write 2 Cor. 6:6.
…in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love…
Underline “in patience.”
Go back to verses three and four and underline “giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God.”
Draw a line from this sentence down to “in patience” to highlight the fact that patience is part of acting as a servant of God.
Impatience, then, would “cause offense” and “discredit ministry.”
At the end of the verse, write Gal. 5:22.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
Circle “fruit of the Spirit” and underline “patience.”
At the end of the verse, write Eph. 4:2.
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love…
Underline “patience” and also circle “humility,” “gentleness,” “patience,” “tolerance,” and “love.”
In verse one, underline “walk in a manner worthy of the calling.”
Patience with others is part of a worthy walk.
At the end of the verse, write Col. 3:12,13.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Circle “chosen of God.”
Underline “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.”
At the end of the verse, write 2 Tim. 2:24.
The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged…
Circle “the Lord’s bondservant” and underline “patient when wronged.” That’s a toughie!
At the end of the verse, write 4:2.
Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Circle “reprove, rebuke, exhort.”
Draw a squiggly line under “great” and underline “patience.”
May we let this command guide our tone in conversations and our posts on social media.
At the end of the verse, write James 5:7-10.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Underline “be patient,” “being patient,” “be patient,” and “patience.” This encouragement was written to those who were being oppressed and unfairly treated. At the end of the verse, write 1 Pet. 2:20.
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Underline “if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
In the margin, write “patience in unfair situations.”
Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you.
(Leonardo da Vinci)
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