Being Patient With Ourselves

"Knowing God leads to self-control.  Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness"  -- 2 Peter 1:6 / NLT

 

Being patient with other people can be difficult.  But sometimes, we find it even more difficult to be patient with ourselves. We have high expectations and lofty goals.  We want to accomplish things now, not later. And, of course, we want our lives to unfold according to our own timetables, not God's.

 

Throughout the Bible, we are instructed that patience is the companion of wisdom.  God's message, then, is clear: we must be patient with all people, beginning with that particular person who stares back at us each time we gaze into the mirror.

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"Be patient.  God is using today's difficulties to strengthen you for tomorrow.  He is equipping you.  The God who makes things grow will help you bear fruit"
-- Max Lucado

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Lord, You have been so patient with us, and we praise You for Your forgiveness. Let us be patient with ourselves, Father, even when we fall short of our own expectations.  You have forgiven us, Lord - now we must forgive ourselves.