Trying to capture an image to express the Fruit of the Spirit of patience is a bit challenging. It is easy to think of images for love, joy, peace, gentleness, faithfulness...but patience, what image comes to mind for patience? With paintbrush in hand I start and restart a thought and then it finally comes. The names of God start to flow out... Jehovah Raah~ the Lord is my shepherd, El Roi~ the God Who sees, Abba~Daddy, Jehovah Nissi~the Banner over me. When God is working the Fruit of the Spirit of patience in us our focus must remain on who God is. He is trustworthy and faithful. Of all the Fruit of the Spirit, patience would probably be one of the more 'end of the line' works I would choose to have God work in and through me. Not because it isn't fabulous to be patient, but because the road to get there can be very long, steep and arduous. In order to be patient, one has to wait. Waiting is not something that comes naturally to the human heart. We want everything right now and hurry! When I feel unkind or unloving its ugly but not always painful. When I must wait for an answer that I desperately desire it can really challenge my resolve. We are filled with many deep heart desires which we present to God, wanting immediate answers. The answers don't always come right away. As He works patience within us, we must remember Who the giver of every perfect gift is. He is the God Who is with us~Emmanuel. He is the God of the mass army of heaven~Jehovah Sabaoth. He sees us, the deepest part of us~ El Roi. He is God on high~ El Elyon and He loves us with an everlasting love that will never be shaken. When we see God for Who He is we can then trust Him with His perfect timing. God is guiding us as the good Shepherd, carrying us along the way when it is too steep. He is singing over us in perfect love. When the answers don't come quickly and our impatient hearts grow weary, we must remember Who our faithful loving God is:El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
El Elyon (The Most High God)
Adonai (Lord, Master)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord the Heals)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
El Olam (The Everlasting God)
Elohim (God)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
