Patience, We Can All Use A Little More Of It

Verse For The Day: 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.


Anyone who knows me very well, knows that patience is not something I have an abundance of.
I fully admit it! I want it (what ever it is) and I want it yesterday. Well, I'm working on it, but God keeps telling me to be Patient, go figure.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that things are not taking as long as they seem. Standing in a check out line, I find myself counting quietly in my head, it never takes as long as I think it does. Waiting to pull onto the street from our subdivision, I try to remember that if I'm not running late then it doesn't really matter how long it takes to get out on the street. And if I am running late, well whose fault is that in the first place. (More than likely it's my own)
We live a world of quick fixes and minute rice, of drive-thrus and microwave ovens. What happened to the days when it actually took days to get a message to a friend. Before text messaging, there was email and before email there was snail mail and before snail mail there was the pony express. Imagine what it must have been like for a king to send a message to a neighboring country in a time of war? Think about it, your country is under attack and you need some backup from your allies but it takes at least a three day ride or more just to get the message to them. Then of course they have to decide whether they want to get involved. If they decide in favor of helping out they still have at least another three day ride to get to you. And there is always the possiblity that there may be nothing left of your country by the time they show up. UGH! How frustrating that sounds to me. But, they didn't have any of our conveinces, it was a simpler time. Now don't get me wrong I have no desire to turn back the clock to this simpler time. I personally have thought it through very carefully and know for certain that I wouldn't have lasted a weekend let alone a lifetime in that day and age. No I'm very happy with indoor plumbing, cell phones, hybrid cars and carbonated beverages. So, it is upon myself (with the Lord's help) that I place the responsibility for learning patience. I think that He tests me daily(that may be just my point of view). I am proud to say that occasionally I am able to stop the impatience before it starts. By redirecting my thinking towards the things the Lord has shown me in my daily devotions. Trying to remember that my devotions are to learn and to live by. They are not just something to get the day going and then file away. That my time of devotion is time with the Lord. He deserves so much better than a quick " Good Morning Lord". It is the beginning of a day He can fill with blessings. So, I've learned not to rush my "Quiet Times". Because if I start my day rushing my time with Him, how can I expect to have patience with anyone else I encounter.
Yes, Patience is a virtue that we all can use more of. If your feeling rushed and impatient, stop and think about the Lord. He is filled with the Ultimate Patience, He has waited for each of us. He is still waiting for many. How Awesome is that!! Thank you Lord that You had the patience to wait for me through all of my failings and my fears! You are Awesome and Worthy to be Praised!!