VICAR
Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You and Your loved ones are well and warm. I know this time of year can be trying for many.
This week I would like to focus on patience.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12: 12
It is too easy in these days of modernity to get impatient. There are plenty of reasons to be impatient, especially in January.
The way around the problem of patience is getting in the right mindset and taking one’s time to react. The mindset You need is humility. Be humble and then the slightest burden or infraction can be received as reminders of Your lowliness before God. Suffer the call from the fool. Accept that the annoying friend is going through a bad patch. Show empathy and try to understand them. Take a deep breath and get on.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2
The Bible is replete with lessons on how to learn to become patient:
“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.”
Psalm 37:7
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Hebrews 10:36
I hope that You have a pleasant Sunday and a positive week ahead. That You find in Yourselves the patience to carry on faithfully and lovingly, with hope in your hearts. There is not long to go now before the ice and snow melts and the spring emerges. Let us have the patience to see that and wait for other wonderful things that are just around the corner. God bless You all.
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to walk in spirit and truth, to walk humbly before You and to learn to be graciously patient, especially when I am with other people. Lord, I want to live a life that is honouring to You and to fulfil the role that You have given me to do within the body of Christ.
Help me to be quick to listen to other people and not always be the one that wants other people to always listen to me. Help me to listen in love, not only their needs and hopes and fears but to listen to their advice and their opinions. May I be an encouragement to them, someone who lifts up the other person and considers their needs before my own.
Help me to really listen to what they say and not to be waiting for an opportunity for me to discuss my opinions or display my own intelligence. Give me the grace and patience to be a good listener I pray, so that I may demonstrate the love of Jesus to all around me. In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.