Building Your Faith - Part 6 - Patience

Part 1 of this mini-series on building your faith was about reading your Bible as a way to build your faith. Part 2 was about praying as a faith builder. Part 3 was about resolve and commitment. Part 4 took a look at endurance, another quality that is not in vogue much these days. Part 5 was about consistence and built a little on the prior post. This time, let's consider Patience. It may not be a big issue for you. But it is for me.

So, let's hurry up and deal with it! I can't wait much longer!

How do I build my faith?

The importance of having patience is much overlooked in our world today. Everybody wants what they want-when they want it. This mentality has severe drawbacks though, because it often leads us to approach our relationship with God in the same manner. We are God's children. Unfortunately, we often act like little children and throw temper tantrums when we do not get our way, not realizing that God cannot be suckered into granting us all the items on our wish list. Remember God is a loving Father not a magician or cosmic Santa Claus.

Romans 5:1-5 Says,

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Or as it says in James 1:3-4,

Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

Hmmmm . . . I am not sure I like this tie in with tribulations and temptations. But that is what God's Word says.

So, Lord, give me patience. And give them to me quick!