I have a word for you today that probably is not one of your favorite words. I’ve lived for seventy-three years, and I don’t know that I have fully learned this, but the Lord and I are working on it. Are you ready for the word?

It’s the word “patience.”

James writes to us about this word. I am blessed, convicted, and convinced every time I read James. Listen to what he says about this word.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (1:3).

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (1:4).

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain (5:7).

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience (5:10).

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job (5:11).

Don’t be surprised by the many times and ways you can express patience today as a follower of the Lord Jesus. More about this tomorrow. However, for today may the Lord help us to be grace-extenders, gentleness-exhibitors, and quiet soft-spoken-responders to situations.