For Patience In Prayer

A Prayer for Patience While You Wait on the Lord

“Be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” – James 5:8 (ESV)
 

What is Patience?

Patience is the capacity for us to tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset. And the Bible has a LOT to say about learning how to be patience – it is a fruit of the Spirit that God strongly desires his children to grow in.

Patience requires endurance. When we are severely pressed, this gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is a product of our cooperative submission to His authority.

Hearts established in God’s Truth grant us the grace it takes to be patient. James 5:8 connects the idea of an established heart and patience when it says, “Be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
 

How to Strengthen Your Heart and Build Patience in the Process

The NASB version of James 5:8 says to “strengthen your hearts.” The Greek word for strengthen is sterizo, meaning to make stable or place firmly. The heart is the center of our being.

God’s Word should be the firm foundation of the heart of our souls. When it is, are prone perspective allows us to be patient.

A habitual commitment to read Scripture is the highest priority to achieve healthy spiritual functionality.

Though my husband and I have been married for over a decade, we are still learning new things about each other. Every attempt we make to grow closer to God and to each other helps our marriage grow stronger.

My parents have been a part of my entire life, yet I still continue to learn their whole story, and share in a different level of perspective wisdom.

wise, getting to know God’s character strengthens our standards of operation.

Look Up, Not Around, as You Work to Build Patience

When waiting in patience is required, our immediate reaction may be to strive for what we can see or become caught up in actively seeking a solution beyond our scope of vision.

We may find ourselves attempting to pinpoint the cause, or assign blame, for a period of silence that God has assigned.

James 5:9 (ESV) states, “Do not grumble against one another, brothers,” instructing us to instead “resist resentment and retaliation” (NIV Study Bible Notes).

The word “grumble” in Greek isstenazo, meaning a sigh, or to groan. Aiming our angst at other people, or even ourselves, isn’t going to speed up God’s timing or change His purpose for our days… or lives.

On the contrary, it could keep us from enjoying pockets of blessing along the way. Sometimes, we are simply called to sit still in His presence. Instead, we mute God’s answers and turn up the volume of the surrounding crowd.

Even wise voices occasionally yield inaccurate applications and affirmations. But in our rush to keep moving and striving forward, we sometimes fail to check their words with God’s. Instead of sitting in silence with Him long enough for Him lead us, we run towards tangible solutions.

The danger in impatience is the high probability that we will find ourselves in a quick tailspin of bad decisions or sticky situations that could have been avoided. God, in His mercy and compassion for us, will never turn His back and label our life “too late.”

It can tempt us to grab control of something that rightfully belongs to God. “What can measly men do to me?” the Voice paraphrase reads. We, too, are measly men and women.

Our free will doesn’t trump God’s omnipotent hand on the universe and it’s definitive direction.

James 1:3 says that “the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” When we’ve experienced enough life to look back on the ways God has pulled us through, we can rest – even experience – joy in trials.

The endurance we build by spending time with God allows us to obediently submit to the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in us, including patience.

The Voice paraphrase of James 1:3-4 says, “true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line- mature, complete and wanting nothing.”

A Prayer for Patience

Father,

We praise You for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and Your alive and active Word, continually sewing our heart together to mirror Your Son, Jesus. Patience isn’t easy, but it also isn’t ours to create in ourselves. Thank You for working in us what we do not have the ability to otherwise.

When injustice smacks into our reality, it’s hard to let You make the first move. When the people in our lives press our aggravation, it’s difficult to submit to the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We want to take control and strive for solutions.

Forgive us for allowing our temperaments to speak first.

Father, You love us perfectly, and promise to defend us. You hear us and are concerned about us. Help us to trust You with our daily skirmishes, and waging wars. Daily, remind us to sit with You and soak in the powerful wisdom available to us in Your Word.

Yet, “what can mere mortals do to us?”  We can go through nothing that You do not have the ability to pull us through!

Help us to understand the gravity and weight of the words, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.

” (Psalm 56:3) May the Holy Spirit move through us and remove our fear in testing moments of trial, and usher in a renewed faith and trust, just as the reminder of Your Word.

For, “In God, whose Word I praise …I will not be afraid.” Your Word has power when faithfully proclaimed over our situations and fears.

Bless our hearts to be established in Christ, for “the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8) May we ever be reminded of His sacrifice for us, and the love for us that drove Him there. That same love promises never to leave us, and to provide the patient endurance we need to stand up under trials of patience. None of them will last forever, but eternity with our Savior will.

Praise You, Father!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

A Daily Morning Prayer
A Prayer for a Broken Heart
A Prayer for Worry
A Prayer for First Thing in the Morning
A Prayer for When You Don't Know What to Do

Megs writes about everyday life within the love of Christ on her blog, //sunnyand80.org. Her passion is to encourage others to seek Him first.

A stay-at-home mom, freelance writer and blogger, Bible study teacher, and children’s worship team leader, faith in action is an important priority.

She resides in Ohio with her husband of ten years, two dancing daughters, and their Golden-doodle.

Image Credit: ©Thinkstock

Источник: //www.ibelieve.com/faith/a-prayer-for-patience-while-you-wait-on-the-lord.html

7 Good Prayers For Patience

Some say patience is a virtue and they are right, but more importantly we can learn about patience from a much higher power than human intuition. We know a God personally and His patience far exceeds our own.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) There are things in your life right now that are trying your patience.

Please, tell God about it and let Him take your hand as He walks with you. Here are 7 prayers for different situations that require your patience.

Your Future Mate

Father in Heaven

You know my heart. I am ready to give my life to someone in marriage. I only want someone that You deem worthy, Lord. I will not settle for anything less! However, my strength is failing and I need You now more than ever.

Help me to be patient as I wait for who You already have planned for me. When I am anxious I jump into bad decisions. I need Your hand in this, Father. So, take my hand as I walk as a single person for now. Lead me to the one You have planned for me.

I pray that whomever it is that they are doing well today and that You bless them! I love You, Abba! Amen

In Affliction

Gracious Lord

Help me to remember that every trial that comes my way has already been known to You in advance. I know that You are with me. I memorize Your Word. I know that I am to be “patient in affliction” (Romans 12:12 NIV). I am grateful for all You have provided me and I need to always remember that You are in control.

Lord, I am learning more every day to be content with life in the moment because You are showing me Your grace and mercy daily. I will persevere through these trials, Lord, because You are with me! Thank you for being patient with me as I am learning to be patient through my own afflictions.

I love you, Father! Amen

9 Long Months

Help me to be patient as my wife goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy.

Dear Lord

I am so blessed by You! You have put a precious little baby in my wife’s tummy! I am excited for the day when I see that little one’s face for the first time. Help me to be patient as my wife goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy. I need to be strong for her when she is weak.

When she needs ice cream and pickles at 3 in the morning, give me a humble and patient attitude as I drive to the store to get them. When she is lying in bed because the false labor pains come and go, give me a joy that shows her I am here for whatever she needs. I want to be as patient as possible, Lord.

Give me Your strength, Father. Amen

Promotion?

Heavenly Father

I am blessed to have a job and I pray for the promotion coming up. I know the plans that I am making, but Your plans far exceed my own. Father, I want this promotion so bad! I could pay off debts quicker. I could get a more reliable vehicle.

I could take my spouse on a really nice weekend get away! I pray that Your will be done in this, Father. If You don’t allow me this opportunity I will still praise Your Name for You are sovereign over all things. Thank you for the blessings I have right now, Lord.

I will be patient as I wait to see how this all turns out. Amen

Uncertainties of Health

Compassionate Lord,

The doctor found a lump that could potentially be cancerous on me. I am overwhelmed with anxiety right now. You are the Healer and I need to trust in You and You alone. Help me to be patient through this process.

If the results are negative I will praise You. If the results are positive I will still praise You. Father, if I do have cancer please lavish Your love on me in a tangible way. I need to feel Your presence right now. I need you, Lord.

Help me to be patient through this trial, Father. I love You! Amen

All of a Sudden

Father

The pain is unbearable right now! I can’t even process this all yet. Just yesterday I was playing with my son’s best friend. Now he is gone, taken by a selfish drunken driver.

How do I tell my son? How can I walk with those who loved him? How can I grieve so deeply and still go to work? Give me patience to not seek revenge on the person who took my son’s friend from this earth so soon. Being honest, forgiveness is not even a thought right now, but I know I must do this. Please help me through this, Lord. I want to be able to forgive.

Give me patience to withstand the overwhelming chaos that is around me. I need to keep focused on You, Lord. Draw me to Yourself, Father! I need you now more than ever! I love You! Amen

Sexual Purity

Wonderful Lord,

You have made us sexual beings and sex is a wonderful thing in the bonds of marriage. Right now, I still feel all of the urges that married men and women do, but I need Your strength to not act on them.

I pray that You will help me to be a patient man/woman through my time being single. I don’t want to stain such a wonderful thing before I say “I do” in front of my future spouse. Give me strength and patience as I endure life by abstaining from sex until marriage.

I want to honor my future spouse and You by doing so. I love You, Lord. Amen

Conclusion

I hope and pray that you find your strength in God as you strive for patience through all of the circumstances around you. Seek God and His strength. He will walk with you even when you can’t feel His presence. He is sovereign over all things. God bless you as you live a life worthy of the calling!

What does the Bible say about patience

Resources –  The Holy Bible, English Standard Version “Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Praying for Patience

Content  

Scripture Passage: 

2 Kings 5

The joke goes this: a man goes to his pastor and tells him how much he needs more patience and asks that the pastor pray for him in this matter.

The pastor agrees and suggests they have prayer right there. As he prays, he prays that this man would have trials come into his life and have many struggles.

Right in the middle of the prayer, the man stops his pastor. “That’s not what I asked for.”

“Sure it is,” his pastor replied, “the way to patience is through just such trials. Paul himself told us that tribulations work patience.”

If that’s the case,” the man answered, “I’ll be glad to wait a little longer to get it.”

Unfortunately, we have overworked this joke to the point of discouraging people from praying for change in their lives. Since change requires trial, I will just do without it. We understand that prayer for growth in our character is often answered by bringing challenges into our lives. We often decide that we are pretty happy where we are.

In prayer for character or spiritual growth, we contact the Almighty God and ask for His help. We usually want Him to wave His hand over us and say a few words and, wa-la!, we are changed.

Although not necessarily, prayer for patience may indeed bring new trials; especially since patience is a quiet and steady faithfulness to God and other duties in the midst of trials.

However, the fact that trials may be used is not an argument against praying. This fear is further evidence of the spiritual shallowness of our times.

We want the best of everything without having to pay more than a nickel for it. Character costs. Spirituality costs. Holiness costs. Salvation is free—to us. But dedication to God costs.

And God says that we are unworthy of being a disciple of His if we are not willing to pay.

Personal Testimony

I have prayed prayers in my life that I knew were going to cost me something—and they did. However, I have found that when God offers something at a steep price it has inestimable value. In other words, we always get a real deal from God.

My daughter uses this in her testimony. She was once practicing to sing the song Whatever It Takes. The song is a very powerful statement of a willingness to go through anything in order to break our heart for His sake. I told her not to sing the song unless she meant it. She said she did and now she is in China serving Him. We need to learn to mean business with God.

Another aspect of her surrender is that her mother and I gave our children to the Lord to use as He saw fit. Now, we will ly only see her occasionally for the rest of her life.

But did I tell you that it is worth it all?

If God is dealing with you about praying for patience or for any other character or spiritual change, PRAY! Don't let someone else's coldness keep you from praying.

God never allows us to face anything that He will not help us get through. Neither does He beat up on us. A prayer for patience may bring trials. However, it may not.

God may just work in our lives to help us handle the trials we already have.

Do not be afraid of God working in your life. Do not be afraid to approach God on any subject. He does not upbraid His children for asking. He does not give them a serpent when they ask for a fish. The Holy Ghost intercedes for us when we do not quite know how to pray. So, pray!

The Qualities Associated with Patience

Patience and related spiritual traits have a central part in our Christian lives. There are really quite a lot of these related traits. Together, they seem to define what is meant by the spirit or mind of Christ.

Of course, there is no way to draw a distinct boundary and say which traits are similar to patience and which are not. However, I would to list a good number of spiritual qualities that we are told to have in the Bible.

I think they will be plenty of a challenge for any person. I know they are for me.

These traits center on our inner spirituality and how that spiritual nature relates to the world around us. That compares to patience itself, which deals with both an inner strength and how we deal with others and the problems of this life. Here they are:

• PEACE: that inward calmness of spirit that remains unperturbed in the face of the stress, confusion and the hurriedness of this world. It is a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). It is maintained only by keeping our minds stayed on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3-4). As Christians, we are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15).
• PEACEABLENESS: dealing with others in such a way as to promote peace and avoid quarrels. We are to attempt to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). The wisdom that is from above is peaceable (James 3:17).
• LONGSUFFERING: bearing injuries, insults or troubles. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22); we are to practice it with joyfulness (Colossians 1:11).
• FORBEARANCE: to control oneself under provocation; to keep our emotions in check when provoked. We are to forbear one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). This includes forgiving those with whom we have a quarrel (Colossians 3:13).
• PATIENCE: A quiet and steady faithfulness to God and other duties in the midst of trials. Of course, as we have been discussing, tribulation works patience (Romans 5:3). We are to be patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12). We are also to patiently wait for Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
• CONTENTMENT: that gracious and quiet acceptance of the lot in life given to us by the Lord; including what material things God has given us and the daily circumstances under which we find ourselves. We are to be content having only food and raiment (1 Timothy 6:8) in whatever state we find ourselves (Philippians 4:11). Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). I believe that contentment is one of the least understood and least practiced traits of godly living—especially for Americans.
• QUIETNESS: calmness, stillness; not pretentious or loud. We are to study to be quiet (1 Thessalonians 4:11) and to work with quietness (2 Thessalonians 3:12).
• GENTLENESS: not bringing harm to others or treating others harshly. Paul was gentle among the Thessalonians as a nurse with a child (1 Thessalonians 2:7). The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all men (2 Timothy 2:24).
• GOODNESS: always seeking the benefit of others as opposed to seeking our own benefit. We are to bear one another's burdens. Goodness is the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22).
• KINDNESS: sympathetic, friendly, tenderhearted, showing concern and care for others. As the elect of God, we are to put on kindness (Colossians 3:12). We are to add to our godliness, brotherly kindness (2 Peter 1:7).
• HUMILITY: a lowering of self in order to exalt others; the opposite of pride. We are to act in humbleness of mind (Colossians 3:12). Paul served the Lord with all humility of mind (Acts 20:19). We are all to be subject to one another and to be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5).
• MEEKNESS: not exalting or promoting self; dealing with others in a quiet, self-effacing manner. We are to instruct those who oppose themselves in meekness (2 Timothy 2:25). We are to show meekness to all men (Titus 3:2). We are to answer others with a spirit of meekness (1 Peter 3:15).
• LOWLINESS: not thinking highly of self. Jesus was lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). We are to esteem others better than ourselves with lowliness of mind (Philippians 2:3).
• MERCY: withholding censure and judgment from those who deserve it. We are to be full of mercy (James 3:17) and to have bowels of mercy (Colossians 3:12).

Overwhelming, isn't it? How often do we hear the above items preached? They may not fit into our western style, macho-oriented Christianity, but they are Bible. Jesus was a man's man. But no one ever exhibited these traits more than Him. We need to learn to be more Him.

David Reagan

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