We "Holy Ghost filled fire baptized" Christians like to quote the phrase "wait on the Lord". We use scriptures like
Isaiah 40:29, 31 NIV He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalms 27:13-14 NIV I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lor1
Those scriptures sound good, and they are true, but have you ever really wanted patience when you prayed and asked God for it? As a child I was always told “be careful what you pray for because God may just answer you but not in the way you’re expecting. You see when you ask God to give you patience, and you mean it, that means that you are saying “ Lord give me more confidence in who You are of what I see. We are asking Him to help us to slow down and we are saying we believe that You care for us and our individual needs and desires.” When we pray for patience relinquishing all control to God and saying that we trust God even if we don’t get what we asked for after praying over and over for it. It’s more than just asking for patience when we are in rush hour traffic, (we really do need patience then). It also means we want God to control our emotions when we are conversing with someone who disagrees with us, or who has broken a promise.
Let’s face it Patience is not easy for everyone; in fact, it is a struggle for everyone to some degree. The fact is that patience does not come naturally to us. Why is that?
Romans 5:12 NIV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
1 John 1:8-10 NIV If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
I read a prayer for patience today that I want to share with you. You may want to use this prayer as an example when you are in a tough situation that calls for patience and you know that without the help of the Holy Spirit you will not be able to last.
Dear Lord,
Patience is something I desire but so often fall short in. Today, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move me to follow You in this area. Would you please give me the ability to choose to live by the Spirit instead of my flesh? You say in Proverbs 14:21, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Forgive me for the times when I have been quick-tempered and mistrusting in the waiting. Enable me to have great understanding and live out patience in ways that I have failed before. Give me the ability to be slower and less impulsive in decision-making and in life.
At the root of patience is love. You say in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The very first description of love is patience. God, you know that I do not always love well in my impatience with others, especially those closest to me. Would You please help me in this struggle to choose Your love and to be patient through Your strength? Help me to be more like You in the ways that I talk, act, and live towards others who I am waiting on.
God, you say in Romans 12:2, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Help me to be patient in the difficulties that surround me. Give me Your wisdom to navigate the trials that come my way. Guide me to have joy in hope and be faithful in praying to You. Lord, you know it is so hard to wait through difficulties, persecutions, and temptations in this life, but thank You that You never leave me in them. Remind me that even though hard seasons can appear to drag on, You are forever with me and love me always. Give me the ability to learn from You and model Your patience with others around me. Allow them to see unearthly patience in me that points to You. Let this be a witness and a testimony to others of Your working power in a sinner’s life.
Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
God, You tell me to be still before You and wait for You patiently. I ask that You would give me the ability to slow down and focus my heart and mind on You. Help me not to live in hurry, but out of a place of rest for my soul found in You. Thank You for Your continuous and abundant patience with me and Your second chances in helping me to grow in patience. Amen.
A Prayer for Patience By Emma Danzey
Isaiah 40:29, 31 NIV He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalms 27:13-14 NIV I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lor1
Those scriptures sound good, and they are true, but have you ever really wanted patience when you prayed and asked God for it? As a child I was always told “be careful what you pray for because God may just answer you but not in the way you’re expecting. You see when you ask God to give you patience, and you mean it, that means that you are saying “ Lord give me more confidence in who You are of what I see. We are asking Him to help us to slow down and we are saying we believe that You care for us and our individual needs and desires.” When we pray for patience relinquishing all control to God and saying that we trust God even if we don’t get what we asked for after praying over and over for it. It’s more than just asking for patience when we are in rush hour traffic, (we really do need patience then). It also means we want God to control our emotions when we are conversing with someone who disagrees with us, or who has broken a promise.
Let’s face it Patience is not easy for everyone; in fact, it is a struggle for everyone to some degree. The fact is that patience does not come naturally to us. Why is that?
Romans 5:12 NIV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
1 John 1:8-10 NIV If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
I read a prayer for patience today that I want to share with you. You may want to use this prayer as an example when you are in a tough situation that calls for patience and you know that without the help of the Holy Spirit you will not be able to last.
Dear Lord,
Patience is something I desire but so often fall short in. Today, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move me to follow You in this area. Would you please give me the ability to choose to live by the Spirit instead of my flesh? You say in Proverbs 14:21, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Forgive me for the times when I have been quick-tempered and mistrusting in the waiting. Enable me to have great understanding and live out patience in ways that I have failed before. Give me the ability to be slower and less impulsive in decision-making and in life.
At the root of patience is love. You say in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The very first description of love is patience. God, you know that I do not always love well in my impatience with others, especially those closest to me. Would You please help me in this struggle to choose Your love and to be patient through Your strength? Help me to be more like You in the ways that I talk, act, and live towards others who I am waiting on.
God, you say in Romans 12:2, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Help me to be patient in the difficulties that surround me. Give me Your wisdom to navigate the trials that come my way. Guide me to have joy in hope and be faithful in praying to You. Lord, you know it is so hard to wait through difficulties, persecutions, and temptations in this life, but thank You that You never leave me in them. Remind me that even though hard seasons can appear to drag on, You are forever with me and love me always. Give me the ability to learn from You and model Your patience with others around me. Allow them to see unearthly patience in me that points to You. Let this be a witness and a testimony to others of Your working power in a sinner’s life.
Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
God, You tell me to be still before You and wait for You patiently. I ask that You would give me the ability to slow down and focus my heart and mind on You. Help me not to live in hurry, but out of a place of rest for my soul found in You. Thank You for Your continuous and abundant patience with me and Your second chances in helping me to grow in patience. Amen.
A Prayer for Patience By Emma Danzey
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