A Prayer for Patience
By Emma Danzey
Proverbs 16:32 says, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
Patience is not easy for everyone; in fact, it is a struggle for everyone to some degree. The fact is that we are all sinners, and patience does not come naturally to us. However, when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can live out the fruit of the Spirit. I always hear that it is a dangerous prayer to ask God for patience because you do not know how He will answer that. Will it be waiting in terrible traffic, being patient with people, or learning that we do not get what we want when we want it even after we pray and pray?
The process of patience refines us and takes us on a journey of learning to trust in God. When we pray for patience, we are asking boldly for the Lord to give us more confidence in who He is regardless of what we see. We are asking Him to help us to slow down and believe that He cares for us and our individual needs and desires. Today, let’s go to His throne and ask Him to grow us in this amazing way.
Let's Pray:
Dear Lord,
Patience is something I desire but so often fall short in. Today, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move me to follow You in this area. Would you please give me the ability to choose to live by the Spirit instead of my flesh? You say in Proverbs 14:21, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Forgive me for the times when I have been quick-tempered and mistrusting in the waiting. Enable me to have great understanding and live out patience in ways that I have failed before. Give me the ability to be slower and less impulsive in decision-making and in life.
At the root of patience is love. You say in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The very first description of love is patience. God, you know that I do not always love well in my impatience with others, especially those closest to me. Would You please help me in this struggle to choose Your love and to be patient through Your strength? Help me to be more like You in the ways that I talk, act, and live towards others who I am waiting on.
God, you say in Romans 12:2, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Help me to be patient in the difficulties that surround me. Give me Your wisdom to navigate the trials that come my way. Guide me to have joy in hope and be faithful in praying to You. Lord, you know it is so hard to wait through difficulties, persecutions, and temptations in this life, but thank You that You never leave me in them. Remind me that even though hard seasons can appear to drag on, You are forever with me and love me always. Give me the ability to learn from You and model Your patience with others around me. Allow them to see unearthly patience in me that points to You. Let this be a witness and a testimony to others of Your working power in a sinner’s life.
Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
God, You tell me to be still before You and wait for You patiently. I ask that You would give me the ability to slow down and focus my heart and mind on You. Help me not to live in hurry, but out of a place of rest for my soul found in You. Thank You for Your continuous and abundant patience with me and Your second chances in helping me to grow in patience. Amen.
Top photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
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Originally published Sunday, 27 August 2023.
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