January 26, 2010, "Patience"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."
~ Galatians 5:22-23 ~

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,"
~ Hebrews 10:23 & 24 ~

An adorable little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes greatly frustrated, whined, "Teacher! My mouse isn't working!"
I responded in a soft voice, "OK sweetie. In order for your mouse to work you must move it around."

A cute little boy who looked as though he just got out of bed, extended his arm to the ceiling, as his forehead formed a frown. He was frustrated as he had forgotten which program to click on. He shouted, "Teacher! I don't remember!" Before I could answer another little girl yells out, "It's not working!" Then as though it became contagious the voices got louder as more children were joining their cries.

Suddenly, I couldn't take the climatic noise as it sounded like clanging cymbals. I could feel my nostrils flaring as the patience felt as though it was leaving my body at accelerated speed. Impatience annihilating me like bullets.

Suddenly, I heard my voice. Pure frustration echoed from my mind through my mouth, "Just click on it!" As soon as I said it I quickly recovered, changing my tone immediately to a sweeter tone going to each child and remaining calm for their sake.

As I volunteered in the library today, it was at that moment I was learning a lesson in patience. It wasn't about the children, but about that gift which I didn't utilize for a moment. I was being taught a lesson by my Father God as He allowed me to see my weakness so that His strength could be made perfect in my life. It wasn't that I 'lost' my patience, even though it felt like I had 'chucked it out the window'. It was truly about being exposed to that which I needed to work on. The exposure wasn't to make me feel like I was 'no good' or that condemnation of, "You failed again!" The exposure was revealing what I needed to utilize and exercise that which was already within me. It wasn't about utilizing an outside source to fix an inside problem...it was to utilize an inside source to fix an inside problem.

It led me to the times I have prayed for a fruit of the Spirit to be placed over me. For instance, patience. Have you ever prayed for patience? Did it seem like every where you turned there was a situation in which you needed it more? We have said it and even heard it, "Don't pray for patience, because you'll get what you pray for."

The beautiful things that God has called us to do, He has never intended for us to do on our own strength or our own will power. He calls us to do His work with the tools that He already provides. It wasn't about 'praying' for patience, it was about utilizing the patience that God had made provision for.

I have to say, I didn't pray for patience, but I saw today even more so why I needed to operate in it, for the sake of the children..haahaa!. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we remain filled up by the Spirit of God, that 'fruit' is already on the inside of us. The patience is already there as a gift from God to utilize. It isn't something to be prayed for; it is something to be utilized. Those situations 'stir up' the need to 'stir' within ourselves that gift which is already within us, to manifest upon us to reveal upon others.

Today, I am reminded that patience is a gift already provided on the inside of me from God. I must also remember not to use the gift of patience to confuse it with tolerance of wickedness. If patience is a gift, then I realize it's not mine to misuse but to utilize for God's Awesome Glory!

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