P A T I E N C E "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid b are. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."

2 Peter 3:8-13 Holy God, It is hard for me to be patient and accept that my timing is not like your timing. We live in a culture that wants everything and wants it now. Help me break free from that way of living. Replace my restlessness with patience and my discontentment with your peace. Help me to remember that your ways and your timing are perfect and I simply cannot understand them. I release whatever I am feeling impatient about into your hands and trust that your timing is perfect. I know that your promises do and will come to fruition at just the right moment.

While I look around and see all the pain and injustice of this world, I may wonder if you will ever come to make it right. Help me turn from my selfish striving and learn the peace of simply abiding in you. Remind my heart that you, O God, have a plan and that it is perfect. And as I await the fulfillment of your promises, help me to live a holy and godly life, one that is pleasing to you and that will point others to your unfailing and patient love.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Scripture for daily meditation "But as for me, I watch in for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." - Micah 7:7

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not , it does not boast, it is not proud." - :4

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in ." - Romans 12:12

"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than . Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for resides in the lap of fools." - 7:8-9

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of . Blessed are all who wait for him!" - Isaiah 30:18

"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains" - James 5:7

Suggestions for daily prayer That I may watch for signs of God as I wait That I may learn to love by being patient with others That I may learn patience even during hard That the future promises will help me patiently endure now That I may be reminded of God's compassion as I wait That I may grow in confidence of God's promises, learning to trust in him in the waiting