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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: GRATE (11/19/15)
One’s Self-Perception Can Facilitate Patience

Patience a fruit of the spirit is not something that we merely say we have or that we are. It is an action word. It is learned behavior, acquired, and then put into practice taking action. One has to live and walk with it daily throughout ones everyday journey. It is not a behavior ascertained by all, but all can receive and walk with it. It is just my opinion, but patience is a character builder, a prerequisite for the Christian journey.

I spent many years prior to my relationship with Jesus Christ, believing that I was the most patient person anyone could ever meet. That was short lived once I began studying the scriptures, and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It was then that I realized my patience was quite limited for there were many who would grate me. It was due to those relational, negative situations that I had to pray for God to teach me how to be patient, or shall I say, give me patience.

There have been times over these past 25 years, that to be honest on the one hand, I have wished I had never prayed that prayer. The reason I felt that way was that I realized for my patience to grow, I had to become more tolerant of the offenses coming against me. It would seem, as soon as I would pass one test, by shaking the devil off. As the phrase goes, looking the other way, and trying to walk in love forgiving the offender, here comes another challenge. In those moments, I would have to make a choice. Depending on the choice I chose, my spirit could be at peace or my flesh could get out of control. There would be a war raging within trying to get out, to strike back in word or deed.

The spirit of God would rise up reminding me that offenses will come. I would turn on the preaching channel; recall a passage of scripture, or a song would resonate from deep within and it would play over, and over again until I began to sing the lyrics. Suddenly, the anger, frustration, or irritability would subside and peace would return. This peace would only come through praise and I knew this. I still know this, and yet there is a constant battle going on between my flesh and the spirit of God who dwells in me. I am so grateful that He loves me enough not to allow me to succumb to the thoughts of evening up the scores anymore.

There is truly chastisement to those who belong to Jesus, and it is for our good. It is in my opinion designed to keep us in tune to His voice. When we can no longer hear His voice, we lose our focus and sight of our purpose. We find ourselves acting, reacting, and doing exactly the same things the worldly do. It takes patience to walk in love and it takes love to imitate and be a follower of Jesus. God foreknew exactly what our experiences were going to be throughout our lifetime, and we are here for a specific time and purpose.

It took years to comprehend the changes. A transformation was taking place from within and publicly showing outwardly, and onlookers were watching and waiting for me to slip up. As it was occurring, I did not understand it. I was unsure if I should be still, or fight back. I learned to fight back is easy. Surrendering and letting God fight for me took patience. All I knew and know is that through the many mistakes I have made in times past, there is and was patience shown to me. There is one, who loves me. He has proven that no matter how many times I mess up, fail Him, or fall, He patiently waits for me. I know that I probably grate/irritate Him at times, but He has never given up on me, His name is Jesus.

Finally, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have come to understand that although I am changing daily, He remains the same. I thank Him for giving me the strength and wisdom to respond to life’s issues with a spirit of discernment. I am determined to put forth every effort to fulfill His purpose in and through my life, as He builds my character and molds me to be more like Him.


Challenge word-grate/ word count 750
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This article has been read 502 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
11/26/15
Good job with the topic and your approach. WEll done.

God bless~
Bonnie Bowden 
11/29/15
It is true that patience can never be mastered. I struggle with it on a daily basis.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/03/15
I like the points you made. I often say I'm not very patient, but it is something I can change. The main red ink I have, is you don't need to use the topic word for it to be on topic. You said people grate me, but to my ears it sounded odd. You still would have been as much on topic if you used irritated. The way you had it, I pictured people rubbing you against a big cheese grater. I enjoyed your ending. Jesus is the same. He loves us through our changes as we strive to be more like him. Nice job.