I’m not alone here. This generation of ours, before and especially after, is completely spoiled by the “now” mentality. Technology has advanced so much that many areas of our lives have literally been kicked into overdrive. I admit that most of the time, I enjoy that, but there are often times in which our haste finds us either missing an important detail or even lands us in an unforeseen mess of consequences. I now the latter all too well! Sadly, the old adage, “Stop and smell the roses,” has become a joke…in the time that it would take me to stop and smell said roses, I could swing through Starbuck’s for a caramel mocha Frap and beat the 5 o’clock traffic!

Oh, but we’ve truly forgotten just how sweet those roses do smell!

Many people battle with treacherous demons like lust and addiction. My demon is patience…and he kicks my butt daily! Some may scoff, but this lack of patience is a real hindrance in my life, particularly in my walk with Christ. I am nearly the most impulsive, hasty and quick to anger person I know. I thank God that I can say nearly…I know worse, Bless their souls.

I’ve been praying for a patient heart, but each day I fail my tests. I kid you not, as I was turning the pages of my Bible to find Scripture to help me, and I nearly lost my religion because two pages refused to separate. I’m that bad! Last night, Apostle Ron taught us that when we pray for something, that we should have a relevant passage (or seed) of God’s Word in us concerning what it is we ask in prayer. This is what I was missing, but now I’ve got some Word up in me about patience!

Psalm 27:14 (New King James Version)

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

And then, this deals with my quickness to anger:

James 1:19-20 (New King James Version)

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Praise the Lord for David and the book of Psalm…he totally rocks my face! Be patient, have courage and God will strengthen your heart. So hang in there, and not only will God respond, he’ll strengthen you against this impatient spirit! Amen! And then James warns us that our wrath will never provide us with Godly results. That’s enough to eat me up with conviction there.

So these are my seeds, and I sow for a patient heart so that I may be delivered from the trouble that a hasty heart brings with it. If you’re like me, I encourage you to do the same. I can honestly say, the worst decisions I’ve ever made in my life, I made in haste. And, nothing good has ever come of my angered reactions or decisions. It’s time to change that.

Patience is a virtue I will lack no more.  Now, where are those roses?  I’ve got some smelling to do!