Living as God's Girlনমুনা

Patience

Have you ever heard someone say, “Good things come to those who wait”? I’m not sure that is always true, but sometimes we do need to slow down, take our time, and wait for the right time to act.

For example, have you ever noticed that you make more mistakes when you rush to finish your homework? Or you miss the best part of a story if you hurry to the end? Or that you have to sweep the kitchen floor again if you don’t do a good job the first time? 

Learning how to be patient is one part of trusting God and saying yes to His plan for your life.

If you struggle with being patient, you are not alone. I, for instance, am actually not a fan of long things—long lines, long days, long books, long walks… Get the idea?

I like things to happen as quickly as possible. So I would say that being patient is definitely a fruit of the Spirit that I have to ask for help with all the time—and I am so glad God is always willing to help me, no matter how many times I ask. He has also taught me that some things take time, and it’s best to wait for them.

So how can you say yes to patience today?

Will you take your time while reading a book? Instead of getting frustrated, will you enjoy the people in a long line? Will you choose to enjoy being the age you are right now and patiently wait to grow up?

One way to choose to be patient is to choose to trust God. So if you’re waiting to see more of God’s fruit grow in your life, don’t get frustrated. Instead, ask Him for help and say yes to patience.

Kindness

Have you ever noticed that kindness is contagious?

Think about a time when you were having a bad day, but then someone smiled or said something kind to you, and suddenly you felt better. Whenever that happens to me, I am grateful for the unexpected kindness—and then I want to surprise someone with my kindness. 

This chain of kindness is a part of God’s plan. As I’ve said, one reason God grows His fruit in His children is so we can share that fruit with those around us. God wants us to share the love, the joy, the peace, the patience, and—as we’ll see today—the kindness. Everything God grows in us is for us to enjoy and to give to others.

You see, whatever God gives us doesn’t actually belong to us. Everything belongs to Him, and He has chosen us to take care of all He’s given us and share it with others.

Kindness may be contagious, but being kind isn’t always easy. We’ve seen, for instance, that we can’t produce the fruit of the Spirit on our own. God grows His fruit in us by the power and presence of His Spirit. Also, being kind requires that we think of those around us instead of thinking only about ourselves, and that approach to life definitely requires help from God.

So what are some ways you show people kindness? Maybe you’re resting comfortably on the couch, you hear your mom struggling with the grocery bags, and you jump up to help her even when you don’t feel like it. This is the type of kindness God wants to give us through His Spirit.

Sometimes it can be hard to be kind to our family and closest friends, and it can also be hard to be kind to people we don’t know well. No matter how hard it is to obey, we need to do what Jesus taught us.

I know that being kind isn’t always easy. But think about it this way: Remember that God showed us the greatest kindness ever when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. The kindness you show people around you will help them to see Jesus’s kindness in you.

What will you do to say yes to kindness today?