PATIENCE IS POWER!

 PATIENCE - Something we all like being on the receiving end of.   Something we wish we had more of!

"Better to be patient than powerful;  better to have self-control than to conquer a city" (Proverbs 16:32)

The power of patience - a self-controlled soul and mind are enormous in potential and power. Jesus exercised this in every situation He faced, whether with his friends or his enemies. He wasn't a doormat, but He was patient!

Aesops Fables has a famous story about the battle between the wind and the sun. The wind challenged the sun that he could remove a man's coat quicker than the sun. The sun was happy to embrace the challenge. The wind went first. He huffed and puffed and blew as hard as he could. The only thing that happened was the man tightened his coat around himself even more! Then the sun calmly shone on the man, and within no time, the man relinquished his coat happily.

You may remember me talking a bit about Jeff last week. He is flexible and patient. I tend to huff and puff a bit more!  

Church history has a powerful demonstration of the power of patience. It was right back in its early years under the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire, as we know, was huge and seemingly invincible. It was also ruthless and demanding.

The Church was a small and misunderstood group that didn't fit into the day's culture. They also aggravated the Empire because they refused to own Caesar as lord. The Empire huffed and puffed and cruelly tried to exterminate the Christians.  

The Christians calmly just went on being who they were. They loved indiscriminately, returned good for evil and forgave their enemies. Without any huffing and puffing on their part, eventually, they won the Empire over.

If that doesn't demonstrate the power of patience, I don't know what will! 

Imagine what would happen in our personal world, homes, health, relationships, dreams, and finances, to name just a few, if we actually lived this verse.  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Human history has been re-written by this fruit... fruit that is absolutely available to us who trust in Jesus Christ. Imagine what it might re-write in our own personal lives if we allow it? Believe me, I'm talking to myself here!

With love,

Lynda x