PathFinder Ministries

Building Character > Patience

A - "Teach us, O Lord, the discipline of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work." ~Peter Marshall

S - But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength...they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

A - So far in your quest to prepare for God's purposes, you've looked at building awareness: perceiving that it's God who ultimately directs your feet and plans. Then building a strong relationship with God by participating in learning from, listening to and loving Him - realizing He longs to prove His love and faithfulness as you look to and for Him in your daily life. And as uncomfortable as it may be, you must continue your preparation by looking inward - examining your thoughts, feelings and actions.

God is continually building your character. Character doesn't develop overnight. God's plan is to mold and shape you little by little until you are fully prepared for His assignments. Rick Warren states that "while we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow." Sometimes you may be so excited about serving and fulfilling your purpose, you skip the growing stages. Don't do it -this is an important time of preparation as well!

What area of your life is God working to develop the character trait of patience today? Is it with your family, friends, co-workers? In your ministry? With Himself? Take a few minutes today to look up a few verses: Ps. 27:14, Ps. 37:7; Ps. 37:34, Ps. 46:10; Ps. 130:5. David knew a thing or two about waiting on God.

One thing to remember - Waiting does not equal wasting time! As women we often fall into the trap of thinking if we're not doing something, we must be wasting time. I hope the verses you looked at confirm the importance and desire God has for you to wait. He can't speak to you or get your attention if your life is so busy, so hectic, so loud, so distracted, so stressed, etc. Don't make Him have to yell; you may regret it :)

P - My prayer today is that you take time to listen to God. Be patient with the waiting. During this character building time, ask yourself - "Am I searching for Him through His Word? Am I staying strong through faith in Him - even in the quiet times when I don't hear Him speaking? Am I taking the opportunity to sit at His feet and learn from, listen to and love Him?" The Bible is full of examples of how God used a long process to develop character, especially in His leaders. He took 80 years to prepare Moses, including 40 in the wilderness!

Next Time....Patience with Others