Love is patient 1 Cor. 13:4 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, I’m not sure who first warned about asking you for patience, out of fear you’d create difficult circumstances that require patience. That’s not only silly, it misrepresents your Fatherly heart, and grace-full ways. I’m asking you for patience because I have plenty of contexts, situations, and relationships that showcase my need of this fruit of your Spirit.
Father, first of all, thank you for your unlimited patience with me. You’re never hurried, annoyed, or irritated with me; you never roll your eyes, pat your foot, or furrow your brow. So great is your compassion and kindness.
So where is my impatience most likely to rear its ugly head? When people don’t talk fast enough, I help them finish their sentences. When traffic is slow and gnarly, I get annoyed and “testy.” When my emails, calls, and texts aren’t returned as soon as I’d like, I get miffed (as though I should take priority in everybody’s day).
I get impatient when worship leaders talk too much between songs, and pastors preach too little from the text of the Bible (as though you made me the judge and jury of every worship service). When lab results take forever to arrive and people take too long to decide, I can get “turned sideways.”
I get impatient with slow clerks, busy airports, and full restaurants (as though I deserve a hitch-less, delay-less, non-waiting existence). When service appointments run late, guests arrive early, and political candidates spew nonsense, I’m not a “happy camper.”
Father, if confession is good for the soul, then I should feel pretty good right now. But as I look at my words, I don’t feel good about me at all; but I do feel awesome about the gospel, and am so grateful for it. Since I do want to be more like Jesus, I ask you for a clear and powerful work of your Spirit in my heart. Make me a more patient, gentle, kind, accepting man—for your glory and the blessing of a lot of people. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.
