10/31/25 we pray for patience.❤️

1. God’s Patience Toward Sinners (Longsuffering)
God delays judgment to give time for repentance.
• Exodus 34:6
“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…’”
→ “Slow to anger” = ’erek ’appayim (Hebrew: “long of nose” = patient).
• Numbers 14:18 (NIV)
“The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion…”
• 2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
→ God’s patience is evangelistic.
• Romans 2:4
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

2. Patience as a Fruit of the Spirit (Required of Believers)
• Galatians 5:22–23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
→ Patience is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work.
• Colossians 1:11
“Being strengthened with all power… for all endurance and patience with joy…”
• Colossians 3:12
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…”

3. Patience in Trials and Suffering
• James 1:2–4
“Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness [patience]. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
• Romans 5:3–4
“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance [patience], and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
• Hebrews 6:12
“…imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

4. Patience in Waiting on God
• Psalm 27:14
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
• Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way…”
• Isaiah 40:31
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…”

5. Patience with Others (Love and Forgiveness)
• Ephesians 4:2
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient and kind…” (the first trait of agape love).

6. Jesus as the Model of Patience
• 1 Timothy 1:16
“But I received mercy for this reason, that in me… Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him…”
• Hebrews 12:2
“Looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…”

7. Warning Against Impatience
• Proverbs 14:29
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.”
• James 5:7–8
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord… Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”