The Glorious Seeds of Discretion

"I just need patience, God. Give me patience for ..." Have you ever prayed words like that? I have. No doubt there have been the same number of times when God has given me the opportunity to give it. Patience is not a natural character trait. It's entirely supernatural. Especially when people are ignorant, or act just plain stupid. There is a distinction between the two. It is sublimely difficult to even drop hints of patience. So, I pray. Holy Spirit, you see my heart. You know my attitude and why I think, act, and feel the way I do.  Give me your eyes to see this dying world not only for what it is, but for what you want it to become.

Patience as a spiritual kind of fruit needs to grow. It doesn't just show up in a basket on your doorstep with no effort on the part of the one who needs it. "Oh, hey, look! Some nice person left us a bushel of patience." No. Like all the other fruit there is a seed planted by someone. Someone else waters it. But God makes it grow.

Mercy is a gift. It's also a tool that we can use to draw people closer to ourselves, and ultimately to God. You know that advertisement which shows one person choosing to do the right thing and someone else sees it, and then the act just keeps being paid forward? I think that is what mercy looks like. Doing, and saying EVEN IF the recipient actually deserves something else.

Mercy goes hand in hand with patience. Both are given to us, if by no one else, then God himself. When we are shown mercy, we are expected to give it in return. That's not division, that's multiplication. When we plant seeds of patience with mercy as our fertilizer, there's no telling how many more seeds will come of the plant that sprouts.

I pray again, Jesus, as the righteous judge of my every inclination, make your dwelling in me.
Your name is the name above every other name. You are holy, and faithful, and true. Help me live according to your Word, and in your promises.

I titled this entry The Glorious Seeds of Discretion. Discretion means to be able to judge rightly, or even think about things in a way that's big picture. I'm wondering if you agree that we use discretion when being patient and showing mercy. 

For this I will be reading and studying Second Peter in its entirety.

May blessing fall on you, and you bless the Lord for all his goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, holiness, everlasting love...Peace!