ICANTW8

Puzzled  by what this title means? This was a personalized car tag I recently saw that gave me an idea for a devotion. In case you can not make it out it says "I CAN NOT WAIT". How many of us can say that is true in our lives? We just can not be patient enough  to wait for whatever it is? We are hasty and rush into things and often blurt out things we are sorry for later. Patience is a virtue we should all try to have in our lives. It would sure make life easier for us and the people around us.  We get nervous waiting on news to come in or hearing the results of tests and can not seem to relax.God wants us to try and He can help. God wants us to have peace. Kind of hard to be peaceful when we are fretting over something or impatient.

What does the Bible have to say about patience and waiting? In Isaiah 40:31 it says "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." In 1 Corinthians 13 in referring to love it says in verse 4 that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Good things are worth waiting for. A farmer can not rush the growth process of his crops or animals. Parents awaiting the arrival of a newborn baby can not speed up that process. Things take time and we have to get busy with other activities so we are not constantly concerned over 'the wait'.

Patience is also one of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 when it says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness". This is a 'fruit' God needs for us to develop in our lives so we do not cause trouble by our lack of patience. A person who is impatient may rush into things and cause accidents or turmoil. For instance a person who can not be patient on the highway may cause a motor vehicle wreck. A person who can not wait in line at a recent Black Friday sale may end up hurting people and getting arrested. Impatience really is not good for much of anything.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." We also have to be patient until the coming of the Lord for no more knows the day nor hour. Psalm 37:7-9 says "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land." Proverbs 15:18 tells us "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel." Patience equals peace and tranquility.

So get your mind off things that are making you be impatient whatever it is. The discipline of focusing on something else is very important. Things happen when they happen and nothing we can do is going to change that.

PRAYER:Lord I need to learn to wait and not be rushing into things I do or say. Help me Lord to wait on you and to be patient. Tests and trials may come along the way but I know Lord you will see me through things if I only trust in you. In Jesus Name. Amen.