Day 4 - Let Patience Be a Way

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3: 9

Meditate or Reflect
When I think of patience, inevitably, I am also thinking about time – how much time must be invested, or lost, or sacrificed, or tested. The fast pace of our world today leaves little room for patience. The world’s pace reminds me of what the poet Wordsworth said, “The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” It is no wonder that patience is a fruit of the Spirit that challenges most of us these days. Patience is persistence, perseverance in doing well, abiding under trial, and endurance; and, God’s patience with us is often described as “long-tempered.”  Reflect on the verse from 2 Peter, and consider the grace of God’s patience toward you. In His patience, God waits for you. Take a breath, and in this moment consider the ways God has exercised His patience with you.
 
Heart, Mind, and Soul
Tune in to how you experience patience in your heart.  Is it a stopwatch, anticipating the end of a thing? Is it a mile wide and a mile deep with plenty of room for waiting? Is it a slow rain, knowing the sun will come in its time? How would you like for patience to feel in your heart? Let patience in your heart be a way of life today. Take a moment to let patience in your heart today.
 
Turn to your thoughts. What are the things that are overwhelming you? What is preventing you from abiding with God? Do you need to be patient with yourself? Are you holding onto anything that you need to give to God? Repenting, and then moving forward with God’s promise. Let patience in your mind be a way of life today. Take a moment to let patience be on your mind.
 
Bring your focus to your soul. How is patience abiding in your soul in this moment? Take a breath and abide with God’s presence to receive the patience He extends to you.
 
God, Self, and Others – Set your intention for today, or make a plan for cultivating patience
Will you walk in God’s patience toward you today? Coming to Him in repentance, and/or receiving His gracious blessing of patience?
Will you extend patience toward yourself? For imperfections or failures? For working through hurts or wounds with patience?
How will you extend patience toward others today? Start with one person, and pray for patience.