Finding Patience and PrudenceBeing patient, better yet...having patience and prudence...what a great combo. All the stuff that goes on in life today usually happens so quickly, you hardly get a chance to see it go by. In fact, you often get the feeling that if you aren't making decisions quickly, that somehow you will "miss the boat." It's no wonder God is very specific in His Word about patience and prudence. Proverbs 22:3 (New Living Translation), "A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
Prudence isn't exactly one of those common, everyday words so just in case you're not clear, the definition of prudence is: 1. caution with regard to practical matters; discretion. 2. regard for one's own interests. 3. provident care in the management of resources; economy; frugality. That's not to say you are to be miserly with your resources or only be concerned about your own welfare. Rather, it relates to making decisions AFTER you've taken the time to gather all the facts, NOT before. And of course, this entire process requires patience. Patience is something you develop as you find yourself in the middle of a situation that requires it. UGH. That means the only time you can practice patience is when you HAVE to because of your current circumstances. So just a warning, if you ask God to give you more patience, you can bet you'll find yourself in a situation where you're going to need it! But that's not a reason for depression and anxiety. It is actually an opportunity to get good at a quality that will always be needed. AND......Here are some scriptures from the amplified Bible that specifically deal with patience and prudence: Ecclesiastes 7:8: Better is the end thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Galatians 6:9: And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. I Thessalonians 5:14-15: And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line (the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly); encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, and be very patient with everybody (always keeping your temper). See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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