"4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
We have all heard more than a few sermons or Sunday School lessons on the fruits of the spirit. They elaborate on what the fruits are, and how we are to work diligently to add them to our lives. When patience would come up, we always hear the same thing "don't pray for patience, because tribulation worketh patience." For a while, I listened to that and didn't really think anything of it other than "the logic makes sense."
We have all heard more than a few sermons or Sunday School lessons on the fruits of the spirit. They elaborate on what the fruits are, and how we are to work diligently to add them to our lives. When patience would come up, we always hear the same thing "don't pray for patience, because tribulation worketh patience." For a while, I listened to that and didn't really think anything of it other than "the logic makes sense."
Do not pray for patience because trials and struggles in life is what teaches it. We can't stop there. I would like to suggest that we should not pray for patience only if we have not first added virtue, knowledge and temperance. The fruits of the spirit were given in a specific order, and that order is extremely important. Without the first 3 fruits, praying for patience is indeed a mistake. If we do not have virtue, knowledge and temperance then the trials that the Lord would send our way to teach patience will only bring bitterness.
Having virtue, good moral character, combined with knowledge of the word of God and the self control that temperance brings will give us the strength of character and the resolve we need to gain patience from trials. Without them, without virtue a christian would not have the moral character to remain positive, treating others with respect, kindness and staying strong in doing right even when in the midst of suffering. They would not have knowledge of the word of God to recall verses to help strengthen and encourage them when times are the darkest and the need the greatest. Without temperance they would lack the self control to keep their minds in check, from dwelling on thoughts of blame, anger, bitterness and despair. The trials would be used by Satan as he takes advantage of the vulnerabilities a christian would have without the first 3 fruits of the spirit, to foster bitterness in your heart.
God does not suggest to us to add the fruits of the spirit to our lives. He tells us to. ". . .give all diligence, add to your faith. . ." there is not a suggestion there. As you grow in the Lord and grace, when you have come to a point in your walk with Christ in which you have added (and will always be strengthening) the first 3 fruits it is time to add patience. We cannot just refuse to pray for the Lord to teach us patience because we do not like what he uses to teach it. That is telling the Lord "Sorry God, but I don't like how you teach us patience, so can we just skip to the next one?" By choosing to neglect adding patience, you are choosing to stop your growth as a Christian. It may be a hard thing to do, but we must add patience.
If we can trust the Lord with our souls, with our eternal fate, we can trust him to give us the strength and grace necessary to face the trials he would bring our way to teach us patience. Christian, if you find you are lacking patience in your life, and you have been working diligently to add the first 3 fruits, trust the Lord. Pray that he would teach you patience, but that he would also give you the peace, strength, wisdom and grace to help you through the trials that he will bring your way in order to teach patience. A year after coming to know the Lord as my savior, I found that I was lacking patience. I prayed for patience, and I can say that over 2 years the Lord definitely answered that prayer. I have not arrived, Lord knows I have not! I will continue to do my best to walk with God. By his grace and power alone I will continue to seek after adding the fruits of the spirit to my life. Pray for me christian, that I would continue to walk the path God has for me, and for his strength to face the trials of life ahead of me.
If we can trust the Lord with our souls, with our eternal fate, we can trust him to give us the strength and grace necessary to face the trials he would bring our way to teach us patience. Christian, if you find you are lacking patience in your life, and you have been working diligently to add the first 3 fruits, trust the Lord. Pray that he would teach you patience, but that he would also give you the peace, strength, wisdom and grace to help you through the trials that he will bring your way in order to teach patience. A year after coming to know the Lord as my savior, I found that I was lacking patience. I prayed for patience, and I can say that over 2 years the Lord definitely answered that prayer. I have not arrived, Lord knows I have not! I will continue to do my best to walk with God. By his grace and power alone I will continue to seek after adding the fruits of the spirit to my life. Pray for me christian, that I would continue to walk the path God has for me, and for his strength to face the trials of life ahead of me.
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