I don’t know about you but “Patience”…waiting on God has been an on-going struggle. One morning while I was getting dressed for work, I prayed for patience. By the time I was going down the stairs I got slammed. As my foot hit the bottom step I announced, “I’m never praying for patience again!”

I didn’t recognize I had just entered a God School Lab Session. Lab Session is where God’s Word applies to everyday life. This lab session blew up in my face because I did not understand the formula. I had claimed, “Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I didn’t understand why God had not answered my prayer.

This has caused me to ponder… what about God? Afterall we were created in His image. ( Genesis 1:27) So, is God patient? That’s when 2 Peter 3:9 came to my  heart “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Bam! God was patient with me for 35 years while I broke His heart.

Now I recognize the times I have prayed for an answer… for God to do something… and then started watching the clock. That’s when I took my eyes off Him and looked at my situation… my self-centeredness. Think about it, I had limited knowledge, wisdom and no plan, telling God, the Creator of Heaven & Earth (Genesis 14:19) what He better do.

Jesus told us the Principle of Trusting Patience with the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-10 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be YOUR NAME, your kingdom come, YOUR WILL be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Then Jesus gave us a living example in the Garden before His crucifixion when He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42.

My impatience has been tempered through the in-depth study of His Word with verses like, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 For we know, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17

Four years ago, in the BSF Old Testament study of Kingdom Divided one scripture shaped my heart. The situation looked impossible. All was lost as King Jehoshaphat prayed before God and his people. May his prayer sink deep into your heart because one day you will need it. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

Changing your focus from self to Him will transform your heart. Allow God’s Word to transform your heart. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:2-8

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.” 1 John 5:14