An entire week spent on the same passage of Scripture. Each day bringing another truth and directive on how to live each day from Colossians 1:9-14 …
- Knowledge of God’s will + spiritual wisdom –> fruitful lives. And who of us does not want lives that bear fruit?
- Prayer –> being strengthened with ALL His power + endurance + patience. Which are you in need of today?
- We can be strong enough. Time spent with Him makes us strong enough to face whatever comes up against us.
Paul prays that “we may live a life worthy of the Lord” (verse 10). This was his desire and prayer for the Colossians and should be our desire as well. We are to be people strengthened by our God so that we live with both endurance and patience:
- Endurance (hypomene in the Greek) is the capacity or ability to bear up under difficult circumstances. Each of us face circumstances in life which in ourselves, will be difficult to endure.
- Patience (makrothyme) is the ability to remain calm in the face of being provoked without complaining or getting irritated by other persons. Each of us have people in our lives that we find challenging or who get on our last nerve.
Think about this. We need both patience and endurance each day. Neither the circumstances nor the people are to upset us as we are walking with God, fully depending on His power. As we live with both, endurance and patience, we are able to live lives which exude joy and thankfulness, which in turn, will cause our lives to produce fruit. Not just any fruit but good fruit.
And as our lives bear good fruit, we can impact those around us.
(image by my friend, Gypsy Orange)
With that being said… which quality is most needed at this moment in your life – endurance with a circumstance or patience with a person? Maybe both? Spend some time reading these words in Colossians (1:9-14) and let Him give you exactly what you need today.
Today I am joining … Inspire Me MondaysĆĀ and Small Wonder and Playdates with God and Sharing His Beauty and Making Your Home Sing and Create With Joy .
Patience! I definitely need patience! Of course, someone once said that when we pray for patience, God gives us the opportunity to exercise it ;). Thank you for your thoughtful words of encouragement and challenge to dig deeper into the scriptures to find the source of both endurance and patience.
Anita, I have often heard the same thing said. But somehow I think God knows exactly how to work it into our lives whether or not we pray for it š He is patient Himself & His desire is for us to be like Him. Hope you had a good week!
Endurance–the bearing up under the weight–can seem so heavy at times, but yes, it does bear fruit that makes it worthwhile. I need endurance with a person’s situation that seems so out of control. I’m only able to help her in small ways, but big ways are needed. š Trusting the Lord to find a way for her.
Lisa, I have prayed for you since reading this although my response has been delayed. Sorry. I have been praying that God would give you the endurance needed so that “at just the right time you will reap a harvest of blessing if you don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NLT)
I love the definitions you gave because I would have said endurance… but really – patience fits better! Great post today! Visiting from Unforced Rhythms!
Isn’t it amazing, Karrileea, how focusing on the definition can bring clarity to what we need to pray for. Grateful you stopped here. May He deposit into you all that you need so you are able to endure! Blessings!
Man, sometimes it just feels like all I’m giving out is rotten fruit. So grateful for the chance to start anew each day. Thank you for linking with #SmallWonders.
As you start each day anew, may He cause your life to bear good fruit to bless others & honor Him. Blessings!
Learning to wait with grace – and strength to live joy and faith in that wait – sometimes I need both at the same time!
š For sure. And He is able to deliver both to us in the measure we need!
Endurance is my word for 2015!
Elizabeth, may our God grow in you all you need to endure this year!
ACK! Both. My four year old is currently testing each and every boundary set before her, and I am struggling! I’m so thankful to this reference to Scripture… Definitely some wise words I will be focusing on this week. Thank you!
Oh my gosh, nothing like a child to test you in both areas at the same time! So remember those days. May our God give you all you need to be the mom to your little one that she needs. Prayed for you this morning!