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1 Corinthians 13:3-4 – “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient…” (NLT)

Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is – patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes (The Love Dare).

Patience is a characteristic of God’s nature that comes into our lives through the Holy Spirit. To be patient is to respond to a negative situation in a positive way. By God’s grace, we have an internal calm with external storms. By God’s grace, we continually realize how patient God has been, and continues to be, in our process of conformity to Christ. This allows us to be more patient with others in their process, knowing God can be trusted to bring revelation and transformation where it is needed.

The opposite of patience is to be quick tempered and demanding. A lack of patience takes a bad situation and makes it even worse. A lack of patience poisons the spirits of those around us, while patience is a medicine that can clear the air and stop problems in their tracks.

Jesus Christ wants to help us grow to be more patient in our relationships with others; especially our spouse and family. Consistent patience sometimes begins with better self-care. Am I connecting daily with Christ, drawing good boundaries? Am I practicing sabbath each week, getting my batteries recharged? Am I drinking enough water, eating somewhat healthy, with some exercise sprinkled in? Am I exercising self-control with screen time, helping my sleep patterns? God wants us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger but we also need to work with Him at His precepts for daily practices and rhythms that get us there.

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