The research on Patience continues...and no you haven't wandered into the religious Blog section...it's me, MaryElizabeth.
But let's talk some more about patience cause God's dealing with me on this one and I need to understand what's going on. Let's be honest, the very word can cause us to roll our eyes. That's because when we think of patience, we think of waiting and we don't like to wait. Or should I say I don't like to wait...
But it seems as though we're always waiting for something. Waiting for a certain thing to happen, for one thing to begin, and another to end. Waiting for more time or more money. Waiting for our marriage to get better, or for our spouse to change. Waiting for the kids to grow up. Waiting for our prayers to be answered.
Waiting can be painful and difficult.
But God says that waiting is good. That's because it produces patience in us.
The apostle Paul tells us that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit, in other words, patience is a byproduct of God's work within us. He describes it as "longsuffering" (Galatians 5:22, NKJV), a word that, according to the dictionary, means "long and patient enduring of injury, trouble, or provocation." Can you think of any important life matter that doesn't require a certain amount of "longsuffering"?
Just because we're waiting doesn't necessarily mean we have patience. It's how we wait that's important. But how long are we willing to suffer provocation? How patient are we when we most need to be? The truth is, we can't have patience without the waiting. But just because we're waiting doesn't necessarily mean we have patience. It's how we wait that's most important. Do we wait with a good attitude?
Paul makes it clear that not only are we supposed to desire patience, we're to pursue it (1 Timothy 6:11). If you're like me, the thought of pursuing patience doesn't bring forth shouts of joy and excitement!But when we chase patience, it pleases God. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1-2: "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
So how do we pursue patience?
Pray.
One way is to ask God for it. Prayer has an amazing way of helping us become more patient. Let's be honest, though, prayer is about the last thing we feel like doing when our patience is being tested, isn't it? But we can pray about whatever is causing us to be impatient. Whatever the case, remember that each prayer, even when it seems to be about the same old thing, has new life in it each time you pray it. Prayer sets something in motion, even though it may not seem immediately detectable.
Make a mental adjustment.
One of the best ways to develop patience is to think of the waiting times as "waiting on the Lord." So instead of waiting on the particular issue to change, think of waiting on the Lord to work changes. This gives a sense that something is going on, just can't see it at the moment. But you can then wait with eager anticipation to see what God is going to do.
Be thankful.
Every time we lose our patience, we can stop and thank God for keeping his with us. The apostle Paul reminds us: "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5, NKJV). We can thank him for his desire and willingness to give us the peace that passes all understanding, and for helping us rest in his perfect timing. If we are to "consider it pure joy" when we go through trials (James 1:2), how much more are we to do that in the daily trials that occur in our lives?
Keep quiet.
Patience means biting the tongue when we feel like wagging it. It means learning to "shut up and pray" when one would rather "open up and vent."
Don't give up.
Patience means learning not to give up when it looks as though nothing is ever going to change, or when it seems as if the things that bother you are never going to be any different.
Whenever you're faced with an impossibly tenacious and irritating issue, turn to God and praise him as the God of the impossible. Thank him that because all things are possible with him (Mark 10:27), you know that only he can make changes that last in your life. Invite him to do just that.
Grow your faith.
Patience means working on growing deeper in your relationship with God. Patience means remembering that it could be worse, and deliberately looking for the good.
Patience means expressing the positive when everything in you wants to point out the negative. It's deciding to overlook some irritating things and, instead, think about the eternal future set before you. This means knowing that because you took a certain action you will be better off.
The most important reason of all to pursue patience is that it's one of God's attributes. When we're patient, we're more like him. The apostle James writes that the testing of our faith produces patience, and patience perfects us and makes us complete so that we lack nothing (James 1:2-4). If that's true, then we can be grateful whenever we have an issue that requires patience. So each time you find yourself in a situation where you have to make yourself pursue patience, try to think about how perfect and godlike you're becoming.
This piece was derived from an article written by Stormie Omartian, the bestselling author of numerous books including The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Husband, and her most recent, The Prayer that Changes Everything (all Harvest House).
I know that I had no business with Steve and I'm here feeling the gravity of my disobedience...nothing to call my own... 
No home, no financial security, nothing.
