“Patience is the companion of wisdom.â€Â ~Saint Augustine
The quote by Saint Augustine is a great Segue to this week’s topic-PATIENCE.
The longer I live the more I realize that the more patient I am, the wiser I become and the less patient I am the stupider I become…I am a work in progress.
For years I viewed the word patience as a word made up of two-four letter words.
Today I know patience is instrumental in not only bringing your God-Purpose to life but in allowing your God-Purpose to be everything God wants it to be and sometimes waiting, instead of jumping, is the best M.O.
Disclaimer–I am not promoting doing nothing because I truly believe your God-Purpose is found while pressing on and doing something. What I am saying is don’t jump “all in” at the first opportunity that comes along. Why settle for a Chevy, when God has a Mercedes waiting for you? Why settle for a Snickers bar, when God is making Godiva chocolate for you?
Because of impatience I have witnessed lots of people settle for “worldly good†and in-turn miss out on the “eternal great†God wants to provide. Sometimes settling for the “worldly good” causes chaos and upheaval in other aspects of a person’s life.
God gives us a free will to expand His kingdom not ours.
The Key? Take God along with you and seek His guidance in all you do and surround yourself with accountability partners who will help you become more patient.
Your God-Purpose gets clearer and expands every time you have the patience to deny a worldly desire…I write from experience.
Please note: The God-Purpose for your life is something that is always evolving and percolating. We all have responsibilities that may take priority over our God-Purpose at various phases of our life. Or we may need to work our God-Purpose around our priorities. For example, one of my top priorities today is to assist my wife as much as possible with the care of our disabled son Jordan. For twenty-four years she carried all of those responsibilities while I built the business and provided for the family. Today as a “retiree,” I build my God-Purpose (helping others realize their God-Purpose, i.e. dreams) around my priority of caring for Jordan. In other words, your God-Purpose should NEVER be at the expense of your roles, responsibilities and priorities in your life.
If you want some assistance with finding your God-Purpose and prioritizing your life, please join us on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 8262 W. St. Rt. 41, Covington, Ohio. This is a group coaching event and is free for anyone looking to grow their life in God’s direction. Fellowship begins at 6:30pm and the meeting runs from 6:45pm to 7:45pm. Email me if you would like to join us. The next meeting is February 21st.
P.E.A.C.E.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,†declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.†(NIV)
