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[TD][h=2]The Fresh Fruit of Patience[/h]by Judi[/TD]
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The fresh fruit of patience is exactly that: a fruit that grows out of an inside established in Truth. Patience is healthy. It’s nourishing, both to you and to those around you. It is not difficult and it is not something that comes from surviving difficult situations. In fact, you can endure numerous challenging trials and realize your patience is eroding rather than developing. Some believe God puts us through various situations in order to teach us to have certain qualities like patience. I think that is backwards. Jesus came to give us something we did not already have. He gave us the Holy Spirit (and as a result, all the fruit of the Spirit) to enable us to thrive and find fulfillment in this crazy, imperfect, and sometimes frustrating world. To do so, He knew we would need patience beyond ourselves.
Patience flows out of knowing the Truth about God’s goodness and His unlimited love for you. If you believe things that aren't true, your ability to operate in patience will be limited. You will think you are threatened when others disagree with you. Frustration will be your normal. You will find that life is overwhelming you rather than you overcoming it. If, for example, you believe God is only happy with you when you behave well or have the right theology or the right politics, the patience you extend towards yourself and others will be limited in direct correlation to that belief. Truly, the supernatural fruit of patience can only grow out of an unlimited supply of God’s love for you.
[h=3]The Superpower of Patience[/h]Patience is defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset”. Wow! Can you imagine your world with the fullness of patience in it? It would be a world in which we enjoyed life, even in the midst of delays. Other drivers would be free to make mistakes (or even drive terribly) and you could happily wave them on. Facebook friends having different political and religious beliefs than you would be invited into your conversations and respectfully listened to. It'd be like possessing an awesome superpower! Everything from a slight inner irritation to a huge indignation would be overcome with patience.
This is exactly what Jesus gave us when He sent the Holy Spirit! He knew we would daily face delays, trouble, and suffering. He didn't want us to be living life continually angry or upset. It isn't good for our health, our relationships, or our quality of life. So He offered us Himself which includes the supernatural quality of patience. Paul mentions that we glory in tribulations (see Romans 5:2) because this is the perfect opportunity for patience to do it’s work. In other words we shine when we encounter challenges, because the world gets to see supernatural patience on display, and it is a beautiful sight to behold.
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[/TD][TD][h=2]The Fresh Fruit of Patience[/h]by Judi[/TD]
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The fresh fruit of patience is exactly that: a fruit that grows out of an inside established in Truth. Patience is healthy. It’s nourishing, both to you and to those around you. It is not difficult and it is not something that comes from surviving difficult situations. In fact, you can endure numerous challenging trials and realize your patience is eroding rather than developing. Some believe God puts us through various situations in order to teach us to have certain qualities like patience. I think that is backwards. Jesus came to give us something we did not already have. He gave us the Holy Spirit (and as a result, all the fruit of the Spirit) to enable us to thrive and find fulfillment in this crazy, imperfect, and sometimes frustrating world. To do so, He knew we would need patience beyond ourselves.
Patience flows out of knowing the Truth about God’s goodness and His unlimited love for you. If you believe things that aren't true, your ability to operate in patience will be limited. You will think you are threatened when others disagree with you. Frustration will be your normal. You will find that life is overwhelming you rather than you overcoming it. If, for example, you believe God is only happy with you when you behave well or have the right theology or the right politics, the patience you extend towards yourself and others will be limited in direct correlation to that belief. Truly, the supernatural fruit of patience can only grow out of an unlimited supply of God’s love for you.
[h=3]The Superpower of Patience[/h]Patience is defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset”. Wow! Can you imagine your world with the fullness of patience in it? It would be a world in which we enjoyed life, even in the midst of delays. Other drivers would be free to make mistakes (or even drive terribly) and you could happily wave them on. Facebook friends having different political and religious beliefs than you would be invited into your conversations and respectfully listened to. It'd be like possessing an awesome superpower! Everything from a slight inner irritation to a huge indignation would be overcome with patience.
This is exactly what Jesus gave us when He sent the Holy Spirit! He knew we would daily face delays, trouble, and suffering. He didn't want us to be living life continually angry or upset. It isn't good for our health, our relationships, or our quality of life. So He offered us Himself which includes the supernatural quality of patience. Paul mentions that we glory in tribulations (see Romans 5:2) because this is the perfect opportunity for patience to do it’s work. In other words we shine when we encounter challenges, because the world gets to see supernatural patience on display, and it is a beautiful sight to behold.
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