Becoming a Patient Person

When I became a Christian, I felt cleansed and refreshed, knowing that God had paid the ultimate sacrifice and had washed away my sins by the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, never to be remembered again. I became a new person in Jesus Christ. He would be my Helper. He would always be with me. I felt so clean that I didn't want to go to sleep, for fear of losing the wonderful feeling I had.

Of course, I did go to sleep, and awoke to the enemy's immediate attack. The enemy wants to remind us of our past sins and cause us to dwell on them, putting doubts in our minds that we really aren't saved.

Being a new Christian, I didn't know what to do or how to handle this. I knew that as a Christian, I should pray to God, read the Bible, and go to church. However, reading the whole Bible can take a while, and I needed some answers fast! The people I talked to, (yes, even the preacher) convinced me that once I was saved, I need not doubt that fact. They told me to pray and read the Bible. I did that for a while, but as the enemy continued his attack, I became tired and worn. Reading the Bible became a chore to me, my praying slacked off, and even going to church was becoming a chore. I ended up slipping back into the world for a time.

You may say, "You didn't try hard enough". Maybe not. But it sure would have helped to get some detailed info on HOW to live in this world and BE a Christian. It took a long time, and I'm still learning, and would like to share some things with you. Oh yes, I had fallen away and when I got to my lowest point, I knew that God was the only One that could help me. I reached out and sought Him as a person walking through the desert searching for a drink of water. He did not fail me. He was right there all along waiting for me to come to Him for help. I did not seek answers from any human. I got the Bible out and started in the New Testament drinking, and drinking from His Fountain. I was so parched and He gave me sweet relief.

These may get long, but you can always come back when you have time, as I'll put them in my sidebar.

I am starting with the Book of James. No particular reason, other than I seem to come back to this Book often.

James 1

Jas 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Jas 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.Jas 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James is speaking to the brethren, which of course, would be all that claim to be Christians.

He is telling us that when temptations come our way, we should be joyful because when our faith is tried, it is working on our patience.

Notice that he says, "...when ye fall...". There is no doubt that a Christian is going to be tested! I'm sure everyone has at one time or another accidentally tripped on something and fallen. You didn't know that it was going to happen. It took you by surprise. This is what happens when temptations come our way. We do not expect them. Some of us fail our tests many times, before we starting passing a few.

Think about the things you become easily impatient with:

1. 
   
   The slow car in front of you when you're trying to get somewhere on time.



2. 
   
   Standing in a long line at the grocery store and you always seem to get behind someone with a problem.



3. 
   
   One of your family members didn't do their chore(s).



4. 
   
   Your husband is late getting home from work and hasn't called and supper is getting cold.



5. 
   
   You can't get out of church fast enough when the service is over, because it seems everyone else isn't in a hurry to leave and standing in your way, blocking the exit. Don't they know you have a roast to check on at home? ;-)

There are many different ways we become impatient, but try to get your mind on the fact that when you are faced with a situation and feel yourself becoming impatient, take a moment to realize you are being tested and then call upon God to help you pass this test and give you the patience you need to grow in your Christian walk. Every one of us has faced the few situations I described above with less than admirable Christian works. Now I'm going to give a possible answer to the situations listed above.

1. 
   
   Maybe the slow car in front of you is having some mechanical problems and is not able to go any faster. I've been on that side of the coin, haven't you?



2. 
   
   Maybe the person in front of you at the grocery check-out counter is a new person on welfare or food stamps and isn't sure how it all works. They are probably embarrassed to be seen having to use food stamps and your huffing and puffing isn't helping matters.



3. 
   
   One of your children or even husband didn't do their normal chore. Maybe they aren't feeling well and thought they would take care of it later when they feel better. You don't help matters any when you automatically jump to conclusions that they are just being lazy. Calmly ask them why they weren't able to do their chore. If it was due to laziness and it was your child, then appropriate re-training is necessary. If it was your husband and he was being lazy, don't start ranting and raving at him. It will only cause more problems. Either do the chore yourself without saying another word, or if possible, just leave it until your husband decides to do it.



4. 
   
   Maybe your husband had a meeting that lasted longer than expected and he wasn't able to call you yet. Lashing out at him as soon as he walks in the door will definitely prove to be a disastrous evening. Be patient and wait for his response to being late.



5. 
   
   No. No one in that church has the slightest idea that you have a roast in the oven that needs to be checked on. If you have been going to church long enough, you know it's slow getting out of the church, so why not set your temperature on a lower setting so as not to worry about it overcooking. Christians enjoy fellowship with one another and especially after a really good service. Haven't you noticed there are times that no one even wants to leave? It's because of the Sweet, Spirit of God moving in the midst of a people worshiping in one mind and one accord.

Now, as you can plainly see, being impatient is simply being selfish.

Please read the following verses that apply to patience:

Lu 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Lu 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.

Ro 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Ro 8:25
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Ro 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Ro 15:5
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

2 Cor 6:4
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

2 Cor 6:5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

2 Cor 6:6
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

2 Cor 6:7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2 Cor 6:8
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

2 Cor 6:9
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

2 Cor 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Thess 1:4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

1 Tim 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Heb 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:3
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 12:4
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Jas 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Rev 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

There are many other verses that relate to patience and I would suggest also reading the whole chapter of each of the verses listed above to understand the whole concept of patience. It seems to me that if we can overcome our impatience with the help of the Holy Spirit, we have allowed fruit to grow. So let patience have her perfect work.

I plan to go through the whole book of James and will not be able to give you a specific date as to the next installment. Some weeks I may be able to post several and some weeks only one. I hope you will join me in studying what God's Word has to say about a Christian's spiritual growth and the fruit He expects us to grow. The fruit we grow is not going to be material works, as all material works on the earth will one day be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.