Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The SECRET to Being Patient

Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”   Jonah 3:4


You clench your teeth so tight and for so long your jaws ache.
It's getting harder and harder not to say all of the things you want to say.
How much longer must you endure the lies and insults hurled at you?

HOW MUCH LONGER?

In that question lies the answer:  The Secret to Being Patient!

When you feel like you're going to explode, it's because you think you must hold in the fire of your anger forever.  You believe you have no outlet. 

But here is the secret:

Patience assumes a time limit!

If it didn't, the word would be meaningless.

When you're driving, or waiting in line, you know the drive will come to an end, and that your turn in line will finally come.  So you can be PATIENT.  You can wait.  Because waiting assumes you're waiting for SOMETHING, and when that something happens, THE WAIT IS OVER!

THAT'S THE SECRET!
THE INHERENT LIMIT OF THE WAIT!

God Himself places limits on His patience, though He could wait for thousands of years if He chose.  But He wouldn't, yea, COULDN'T, wait forever!  Because forever means whatever you're waiting for won't ever happen!  God decides when things will happen.  He makes a decision.  So can you.  Follow God's example.

Jonah told the Ninevites that God would destroy their city in 40 days.  Why 40 days?  Why not right now, or in 1 day, or in 3 days?  10 days?  You get the point.  God decided to give a time limit, long enough for a chance to repent, but not so long that evil endures. 

What about you? 
What's your limit?

Think of the longest time you feel you can endure a wrong doing, a limit that doesn't allow the wrong to do irreparable damage.  Do you give the person 3 chances?  Do you wait for 30 minutes?

Now that you know the secret to being patient, you have the power to use that secret.
Decide a limit, and wait no longer.
Feel patience power.

Tell me what you think. 
Leave me a comment about your patience challenges.

(I hope I'm helping you with my words.  If I am, tell me, share me, and follow me!)

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