Patience #5—Power for Patience

We pray for you and ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord … strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, unto all steadfastness and longsuffering patience. Colossians 1:9–11

When we engage in a grand building project the architect devises and initiates a plan for turning vision into reality. When the engineers and the trades people understand the architect’s intent and patiently act in accordance with this plan, they show how valuable the plan is, bringing glory to the architect. Patience demonstrates our knowledge and faith in the plan and the excellence of the planner. So patient living is worthy of the Lord, for it reflects how wise and powerful God really is as he leads us through life. Patient living comes from knowing and understanding Jesus’ plan for his people, and from agreeing that it is a good one. Patient longsuffering is not from our innate ability but from our appreciation of the value of God’s plan. Because he wants us to be more patient, God answers our prayers for insight and wisdom. As knowledge comes in the correct amount and frequency, we see the excellent end he has in view and gain the power to live patiently in the present.

Lord, thank you for making patience possible. Thank you for letting me know what you are doing, and for allowing me to be part of it with you. Make me strong in my confidence that you know what is best.