Patience is more than a virtue; it’s a fruit of the Spirit. As you prepare your heart for Christmas, focus on love, joy, peace, PATIENCE…
Waiting
Waiting tries our patience though, doesn’t it? From the minor irritation of waiting in line, to the major seasons of waiting for an answered prayer, trusting God, means trusting His timing, but it’s hard.
Silent night
There are times when God seems silent. The title of the classic song Silent Night pretty much describes what happened between Malachi and Matthew. Between the Old Testament and New Testament are 400 years of nothing except silence. What do you do in seasons of silence? Keep trusting or lose patience and take matters into your own hands?
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act…” Psalm 37:7 (NLT)
The silence was broken by the cry of a newborn baby. Actually, as an old obstetrician, I’m pretty sure the silence was broken by Mary’s anguished cries since an epidural wasn’t an option in the stable, but that’s another story.
That baby was worth the wait and came in God’s perfect timing. When the time is right, Jesus comes. Wait patiently for His arrival.
“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.” Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)
Patience is more than a virtue, it’s a fruit of the Spirit
“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
Cultivate the fruit of patience. It doesn’t come naturally for most of us. But God demonstrates His patience with us over and over.
Wait for the LORD in the silence and in stillness.
