READING: Ezekiel 40-41, 2 Peter 3
Today, I’m deeply grateful for the patience of God. He was more than patient with me as I fought the Spirit’s wooing before I became a believer. He’s been patient with me when my spiritual growth hasn’t been as consistent as it should have been. He would be fully within His right as Creator to have drawn a line in the sand in my life, but His patience toward me has been much greater than mine has been with others.
Then, I’m mindful of the folks for whom I’ve been praying for many years. Too many times, I’ve grown discouraged when I’ve watched them seemingly turn more and more away from the Lord. I desperately want them to follow Jesus, but they just don’t want to listen. At least not yet.
What gives me hope, though, is the patience of the Lord, who is “not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Indeed, we are to “regard the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Pet 3:15). He has not yet come again, and each day He grants us is an opportunity for others to turn to Him. My own maternal grandmother became a Christ-follower on her deathbed, solely because God was patient with her to the end. Only by His grace does He grant us more opportunities to repent.
May those for whom I’ve been praying turn to our patient God! And, may the same happen for folks on your prayer list.
PRAYER: “God, give me hope again for those for whom I’m praying. I’m grateful for Your patience.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Pray even more today for those you want to follow the Lord—and trust His timing.
TOMORROW’S READING: Ezekiel 42-44, 1 John 1:1-2:27
