Daily Devotional

As human beings, we find it very difficult to wait. We want everything “yesterday”… We have no patience to wait in line, to be served, to get the results of a test, or even to receive an answer from God to our prayer.

To have patience, we need to have hope; and to have hope, we need to have faith. Faith gives us hope, and hope gives us patience. When we lose patience, it’s because we no longer have hope and when we no longer have hope, it’s because our faith regarding what we are waiting for has faded.

Therefore, we can say that a lack of patience is directly related to our lack of faith. We must remember that our God is sovereign, and at the right time He will act, fulfilling His Word in our lives. Give control of this situation to God. Many times, God is working for our good in the midst of a long wait.

Trust in the Lord

• Make sure that what you are waiting for is God’s will for your life.
• If you are not certain it is God’s will, seek confirmation from the Lord.
• Once you are convinced that what you are waiting for is God’s will, ask Him to increase your faith and let hope fill your heart.
• Doing this will fill you with patience.

Prayer:

See also:Psalm 40: A verse-by-verse Bible Study on Patience and Trusting in God

"⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
- Philippians 1:9-11

This is a beautiful prayer made by the apostle Paul to the Philippians; indirectly, it has also reached each of us. In it, he asks for love to increase in two fundamental things:

1. knowledge
2. perception

An increase in love is fundamental nowadays. But it's not something nominal or superficial. Love implies knowledge and all perception (discernment, being attentive). This means that we need to know more about the object of our love: God in the first place, and our neighbor as ourselves.

In addition, we also need to be attentive, with all perceptions, to love more and better. This means no longer being insensitive and alienated, but paying attention to others and their needs. Remember, you were and are loved by the greatest Love in the world. That's why you can also show greater love for God and others.

Love in Action!

• Being loved and loving changes our understanding of living, it should change our attitude towards everything and everyone.
• Look for ways to get to know God better, through a personal relationship with Him. Also, try to get to know the reality of other people. Get involved, participate, and find ways to love more.
• Pray more and get to know the Bible better - reading, preaching, Bible studies, and courses are good ways.
• Look around you, like the "good Samaritan". See what you can do for others today.
• Ask God to increase your love (and that of the whole church), to love with knowledge and a good understanding and sensitivity.

Pray:

Lord our God, help me to love more.
Teach me to love you faithfully above all things, and also to love those who are the object of your love.
May I notice those who suffer along the way and extend my arms to the afflicted.
Increase knowledge and a good understanding of life, so that Your love is reflected in me and reaches out to others around me. In the name of Jesus, I thank you for everything.
Amen!