Colossians 1:11-12

Pin It Have you ever heard this said in church before?
"Don't ever pray for patience because God will send you a trial!"
This is normally said in jest, but there is a little truth behind every joke.  Christians, in general, do not enjoy praying for patience.

In Colossians 1:11-12 Paul prayed for the Colossians to be:
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

He actually prayed for them to be strengthened in the areas of patience and longsuffering with joy.  These are two important requests dealing with our Christian walk.  We need to exercise patience with those around us, gracefully accepting their shortcomings (as they often accept ours!).  Longsuffering is long and patient endurance.  Think about handling trials, and what the Bible teaches in James 1:1-4.  We should "count it all joy" when trials come because the end result of responding joyfully in trials is patience. 

 As our patience and joyful longsuffering are strengthened we become more like Christ...this is our ultimate goal.  The key to it all is the glorious power of God!

I thank God that through the shed blood of Jesus I am counted worthy to be called His child.  I have an inheritance that outshines any riches this world could ever offer.  I ask God to help me to learn the lessons He sends through trials so that I may be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works"! (2 Timothy 3:7)

What lessons in patience and longsuffering is God trying to teach you today?