Writing today as part of the Five Minute Fridays weekly free-write. Today’s writing prompt is PATIENT.
Starting now-
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Today we write about patience, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Sometimes I think this one is not mine yet because I’m not always that person. But that’s the wrong way to think about it. What if patience was always there and I just forget to activate at the right time.
It’s more truthful to say that I haven’t learned to activate it at the right time. That’s an odd way to think about it I know, as if patience is switch to be flipped on but I can’t quite control when. Or sometimes it’s off more than it’s on.
For example, I’ve been patient for the first two weeks out of work even when it took 5 days to apply for unemployment. That was a surprise. The switch was turned on. This week, however, I did work from home. There was a deadline involved and that same old pressure came back.
Working from the dining room isn’t as quiet as my office. The rest of the family is home too. They tried to stop talking to me, but not so much sometimes. After a couple of hours of that, my old self showed up. The switch was turned off and, just like that, I wasn’t very patient with them anymore.
To help keep patience activated, let’s remember how patient God is with us and thank Him.
On this Good Friday, can you imagine how patient Jesus must have been while He prepared the apostles? While He waited for the Cross and then hung there bearing all the world’s sins (John 3:16). While He waited for His last breath.
Luke 23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
While He waited for the third day, and the dawn that would reveal His victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-56). Let’s remember and thank Him.
We are Jesus’ disciples now and He is still patient with us, but we have a job to do (Matthew 28:18-20). So, whether working from home, online or in the world let’s do it by His example with patience and love.
I’m a Christian, glory be,
Christ-follower to the core,
and patient when I have to be,
but not a moment more.
I will turn the other cheek
when I am attacked,
but will knock you to last week
when you turn your back.
I do really love my neighbour
just as much as I love me,
but I really kinda savour
when over him, I’ve victory.
Jesus, to make me just like You,
I think You’ve still some work to do.
Yes, there is always more work for Jesus to do in me too. Happy Easter, Andrew.