“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

When you think of the virtue of patience, think of a thermometer. When you are in a situation that pushes your buttons and frustrates you, put a spiritual thermometer under your tongue and monitor how quickly you are burning up with anger.

Developing a resistance and immunity to the bacteria of frustration involves ingesting daily doses of God’s patience toward you. Aren’t you glad that God cuts you some slack and loves you in spite of your foibles and failures? In spite of your missteps and mistakes? As a growing follower of Christ, you long to be like him and offer that same patience to others.

The vision? The next time you are in that same frustrating situation, place the spiritual thermometer under your tongue again and see if it doesn’t take a bit longer for your temperature to rise. If that is indeed the case, you will have tangible evidence that you are growing in the virtue of patience.

“I am slow to anger and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 55-56.]