Joyful Moments in Christ

A Prayer for Growing in Patience

A Prayer for Growing in Patience

A Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are so patient with us, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Your word tells us that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, and you demonstrate perfect patience in your dealings with our rebellious natures. Throughout time, you have waited for us to turn back to you, offering us grace and mercy at every step.

I confess that patience is an area where I deeply struggle. I become frustrated when things do not go my way, or when people fail to meet my expectations. I often rush ahead, forgetting that your plans are always better than mine, even if they are sometimes slower than I would like. Right now, I really don’t understand why you are allowing Christians to be so severely divided inside America. Please forgive me for my impatience and help me to trust that your timing is best.

Thank you for your infinite patience with me. Thank you for not giving up on me when I stumble, and for showing me grace as I learn and grow. I am grateful for the example of patience you have given me in your Son, Jesus, who endured the cross and bore the weight of our sins with unwavering love.

Lord, I ask you to help me grow in patience. Teach me to wait on your timing with a heart that trusts you completely. Help me to be patient with those around me, showing your kindness and understanding instead of my frustration. Let your Spirit work in me so that my patience reflects your character and brings peace to my relationships. May I grow in patience, day by day, as I learn to walk in step with you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Respond

Please pray a prayer about growing in patience.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

  • Adoration: Praise God. Does this topic bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
  • Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this topic bring any specific sins to mind?
  • Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this topic inspire gratitude?
  • Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this topic inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

A Prayer for Growing in Patience
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV): 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.
Psalm 37:7 (ESV): Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV): 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, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV): I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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