Fruit of the Spirit Pt. 2 - Week 1, Day 3

Day 3: Supernatural Patience (Relying on God)

How do we become more patient people? Honestly, getting frustrated and yelling at everybody isn't working out so well. We end up with broken relationships and hurt feelings. There has to be a better way, so how does God develop patience inside of us?

The first thing we have to do is actually rely on God and His Holy Spirit that lives inside of us every single day. We can't be patient with others or with ourselves unless God helps us. This is supernatural stuff.

In John 15:5, Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing."

If I stay deeply connected to God, then I will develop the Fruits of the Spirit (you know the verse we have been memorizing this week) because God will help me live in a way that I could never have lived on my own.

If I don't rely upon God, I know what will happen. I will become impatient, and my impatience will do damage to my wife and kids and those that I love. I have to surrender my life to God every day. I have to lay my life down before Him and allow Him full access in my life to do whatever He wants me to do for him. It is no longer my plans, but his plans; no longer my goals but His goals. It's no longer my life, but it is his life.

Through the years, I have grown to be a more patient person. I have a long way to go, but I have grown in this area because I spend time with God every day, in His word and in prayer.

When I begin to have a short fuse, it is obvious to the people who know me that I haven't been spending the time I need to spend seeking God and what He wants for my life. I have to stay connected to God because apart from Him, I damage myself and others.

The second thing that has helped me is constantly reminding myself of how patient God has been with me.

When Christy and I were first married, we had a cat named KC. I'm not proud of it, but we had a cat. My cat thought he was god. He would lie out in the middle of the street, and cars would drive around him. Every once in a while, he would cry to go outside, so I would get up and open up the back door to let him out, but rather than just running out, he would stand there and look at me as if to say, "I'm going to test you today to see how long you will hold that door before I decide to go through it." That was his mistake, because if my cat made me wait too long, I would make sure to squish him with the door as he went through.

That's the way many of us have tried God's patience. For years we have thumbed our nose at God and did whatever was right in our own eyes without any thought about what we were doing to Him. And yet, God was patient with us, wasn't He?

Paul writes, "…I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience." 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)

How many times in our life have we promised God one thing and done another?

How many times have we given in to temptation when we know we should have run away?

How many times have we found ourselves in the same old mess after promising God that we would never end up on that dead-end street again?

When I look at my life, I am amazed that God still puts up with me. For all my inconsistencies, for all my sin and shame, God just looks at me and waits. He waits for the day that we will rely upon Him completely and totally. And while He waits, He continues to love us.

When we consider just how patient God has been with us, what reason or excuse could we possibly come up with that would justify us not being patient with others?

Time Out:

1. Are you relying on God for patience? If you said yes, how are you doing that? If you said no, how could you start relying on God for patience?

2. How many times in our life have we promised God one thing and done the other?

3. How many times have we given in to temptation when we know we should have run away?

4.  How many times have we found ourselves in the same old mess after promising God that we would never end up on that dead-end street again?

God has been patient with us, but His patience will come to an end. Look at this verse.

Romans 2:4 says, "…did you think that because He's such a nice God, He'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but He's not soft. In kindness, He takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change. You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end, you get what's coming to you—" Romans 2:4-6 (MSG)

Here is the good news I have for you today. God doesn't want you to get what is coming to you. That is why Jesus came and died on the cross for your sins. Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting for you to open up that door and let Him in. Let Him into all of your life. Let Him lead you and guide you.

Are you playing games with the patience of God? Repent of your sin and hold closely to Jesus. Rely on Him every moment of every day, and never forget when something irritating happens to you how patient God has been to you.