Why should we be concerned about building our “patience muscle?” Isn’t it sometimes easier to ask for forgiveness than to react correctly the first time? The truth is patience is something that we not only give but we hope to receive from others.

The human experience can be summed up in the phrase, “hurry up and wait.” Life is moving at lightning speed. However, there are times of waiting that feel like they drag on forever - especially when dealing with others. Many times we suffer from someone else’s wrongdoing, and it’s hard to wait it out. Galatians refers to this as “longsuffering.”

Raise your hand if you could use more patience in your life! What if we told you that you already have all the patience you need? You might think that’s impossible, but let me explain.

Do you like to be scared? Do you get a thrill from watching scary movies or reading a thriller? Some may argue that fear as part of entertainment is harmless and fun – it doesn’t have any bearing on actual fear. But is that true? Do our bodies and minds categorize entertainment vs. actual fear? Fear is engrained in the fabric of our lives from the nightly news to TV shows and movies. Unfortunately, it is also rampant in our minds taking the form of anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

Do you ever feel like you’re running on empty – like you have nothing else to give? If that’s you, you’re not alone! Life has a tendency to chew us up and spit us out. God knew life would be like that, so He gave us the special gift of the Holy Spirit to meet our needs above and beyond anything we could ask or think.

Did you know that you have an advantage? Well, if you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life, you now have the greatest advantage ever! You have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He lives in you and is there to help you, guide you, and bring you into all truth.

Jesus' goal was to usher in the ability of the Holy Spirit to dwell not just with us but IN us. He said that the Holy Spirit would fill that void of loneliness in their hearts. We wouldn't be left orphans but would be made a member of God's family.