Longsuffering | Kristi's Morning Devotional

Have you ever faced a dilemma when you wondered which way you should go – which was the right decision to make? I have on multiple occasions. In fact, Dave and I have a few decisions ahead of us in the next few weeks that we are still seeking the Lord’s direction on.

It’s great to know that we aren’t left to our own limited knowledge. We have Someone we can talk to and gain insight from Who knows the beginning and the end. Someone who is infinite in wisdom and willing to help.

“I was still being held prisoner in the courtyard of the palace guards when the Lord told me: ‘I am the Lord, and I created the whole world. ³Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.'” Jeremiah 33:1-3 CEV

I am so grateful that His wisdom goes far beyond mine and that I can depend on the Lord to give me the direction I need. His wisdom keeps us from making mistakes if we are willing to listen.

“You said to me, ‘I will point out the road that you should follow. I will be your teacher and watch over you. ⁹Don’t be stupid like horses and mules that must be led with ropes to make them obey.’” Psalm 32:8-9 CEV

The image I used for today’s blog makes me laugh. I have sometimes been like the mule in the picture. Dug in and unwilling to move. However, I am thankful for the Lord’s patience and love. The Bible tells us He is “long-suffering”.

“And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. ⁶And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” Exodus 34:5-6 KJV

Thank you Lord for being merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth!

The Lord is faithful to forgive our sins of stubbornness and disobedience. He is abundant in goodness.

“So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, ‘I’ll tell the Lord each one of my sins.’ Then you forgave me and took away my guilt. ⁶We worship you, Lord, and we should always pray whenever we find out that we have sinned. Then we won’t be swept away by a raging flood. ⁷You are my hiding place! You protect me from trouble, and you put songs in my heart because you have saved me.” Psalm 32:5-7 CEV

The Lord is merciful and He always forgives. I think the raging flood mentioned in the verses above is the flood of guilt that rushes over us and keeps us from moving forward. The Lord doesn’t want us being held captive by guilt or thoughts of unworthiness. He not only forgives our sins, He also chooses to forget them.

Those are excellent reasons to sing!

Today I am grateful for the Lord’s leading, for His forgiveness and for giving me a clean conscience.

I had some very good English teachers when I was in Junior High and High School. They taught me to love language; to look for the familiar in unfamiliar places. So this morning while looking at the word patience I wasn’t surprised by what I found in the center of the word.

I – I am in the center of patient, three letters before and three letters after. The same holds true with the word impatience; five letters before and four letters after. No wonder “I” have trouble with patience sometimes, I want things centered around me.

Impatience is a fruit of selfishness! Think about that, it is something I heard Joyce Meyer say years ago and I haven’t forgotten it.

It’s true – “I” don’t have time to wait; “I” could do it better; “I” deserve to be treated better than this; “I” told you to do it “my” way. And it goes on and on. Most of our objections around things that make us impatient start with I.

How contrary that is to God’s character! He waited for just the right time to send Jesus. Jesus walked this earth teaching the same thing over and over, God’s love for us and His plan for our restoration. People didn’t get it. And now God is waiting again, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

In John 13, we read the story of Jesus final Passover celebration with his disciples before His crucifixion. He takes the role of a servant and starts washing the disciples feet. Peter objects, he didn’t understand what Jesus was doing but Jesus doesn’t become impatient. He took time to explain His purpose to Peter and still he misunderstood…

“It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus had always loved the people in the world who were his. Now was the time he showed them his love the most.

2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to hand Jesus over to his enemies. (Judas was the son of Simon.) 3 The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus knew this. He also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was going back to God. 4 So while they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. He got a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist.

6 He came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to him, “Lord, you should not wash my feet.” 7 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what I am doing now. But later you will understand.” 8 Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, you are not one of my people.” 9 Simon Peter said, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

10 Jesus said, “After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would hand him over to his enemies. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11 ERV

Countless times the Lord has been patient with our failings, our shortcomings, our wanderings. He has been there to pick us up, welcome us home and encourage us to “go our way and sin no more”.

And now He is asking us to become patient with ourselves and with others, to show them the same love and compassion He has shown to us. When we are patient, we are Christ-like and our lives will reflect His love.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:2-4 ERV

Remember, “I” am surrounded by patience. Patiently love those surround you today!

Tag: Longsuffering

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