We continue are reading of “A Woman’s Walk with God” by Elizabeth George. It is a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. Today we look at chapter six – “Resting in Patience.”
The fruit of the Spirit is…patience. Galatians 5:22
“How can we continue to walk by the Spirit and not succumb to the flesh when we are assaulted by people? Handling people in a gracious, Christlike manner presents a real test for us. But thank God that He gives us three more graces, three more fruit – patience, kindness and goodness – for managing the strain of personal relationships. Reaching out to others requires that we take action – the actions of patience, kindness, and goodness as we walk by the Spirit.”
Scripture tells us we are to dress our spirit each morning with the godly quality of patience. We are to put on patience, adorn ourselves with patience, and walk with patience. This is definitely not easy to do. The author tells us that in times when we are frustrated, irritated, annoyed with people, when we are critical or want to lash out, we are to be patient instead. I don’t know about you, but I do get frustrated and irritated with people. I think, why can’t they just…
When I thought of patience, I thought of it as being able to wait a very long time for something. The author shares that “much more is involved in the kind of patience that is a fruit of the Spirit”. She shares four ingredients that would be written on the label:
1. The first and primary ingredient in patience is endurance – forbearing wrong and ill-treatment. “Patient endurance is long-spiritedness, tolerance, and slowness to wrath. It is practiced toward people and relates to our attitude toward others. It is the quality of putting up with other people, even when…sorely tired!”
2. Next ingredient details the very special conditions for patience: when injured. We need patience to endure injuries inflicted by others, a patience that is characterized by long-suffering, evenness of temper, or patient endurance when injured by another. It also includes the idea of forbearance of wrong under ill-treatment.”
3. Another ingredient describing patience is mercy. “Patience wishes well to others and is willing to endure with them…hoping for their good. Besides obedience to God’s instructions to be patient, our motivation to practice patience should be the good of others.”
4. The last ingredient would be written in red letters and say “Contains no anger or vengeance! The Spirit’s patience holds no wrath or thought of sinful revenge or retaliation. Patience is the grace of the man who could revenge himself but chooses not to.”
“Therefore, patience withholds: It withholds vengeance, revenge, and retaliation, and endures instead. It endures ill treatment, it refuses to be angry, and it desires the offender’s good.”
“In light of these ingredients, the definition of patience I (the author) uses for myself (author) is: Patience does nothing. Patience is the front end of these three fruit which relate to people – patience, goodness, and kindness – and it is the passive part of love. It is love doing nothing.”
The author is telling us that when we have been hurt, wronged, or ill treated we should do nothing. You say nothing! Yes, nothing. What a concept. She says that it gives us time to do something – “to pray, to reflect, and to plan to respond in a righteous manner.” Of course the battle would be with our flesh wanting to respond in like manner. They can’t talk to me that way! I can’t believe she did that to me! These would be a few of our responses. The author says that once we learn about the ingredients of true spiritual patience, it “can make a drastic difference in our conduct toward others.” Yes, our flesh would not be so quick to respond.
In order to do nothing, we would have to lean very heavily on God, because by only His strength will we be able to heed the directions.
This chapter really spoke to me. I have faced some tough stuff in the last couple of years and I know I haven’t always responded with God’s patience. It’s a hard thing to do in our flesh. The only way we can walk in God’s patience is by spending time in God’s Word, prayer and following Jesus’ example. We cannot do this on our own, that is for certain.
In discussing this chapter with my ladies, it was noted that we have more patience with people and circumstances we tolerate and less patience with those we do not tolerate. I thought that was quite profound. Do you see this in your own life?
Let’s pray. Father, I thank You that You provide Your patience to us. I know that I haven’t always walked in Your patience. I ask that You help me in this area. And help those reading this to walk in Your patience. That we will endure, show mercy and not try to avenge our own selves. Thank You Father. We love and appreciate You. We declare that there is none like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Blessings,
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