Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.

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Read

James 5:7-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

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Reflect

Patience! Something most of us struggle with. At least I do. In 1921 White Castle opened the first fast food restaurant. McDonald’s was established in 1940, and Kentucky Fried Chicken (now KFC) started in 1952. These are credited with beginning the “fast food” revolution. No longer did the family have to go home and cook a meal, which in turn started what I call the “Instant Gratification” era. Today, we have a multitude of drive-thru places to pick up food. We don’t even have to get out of our vehicles. Or we might just go home, pop something into a microwave, or other appliances, and have something ready to eat in minutes. Neither do we have to lift the receiver of a telephone and wait for “Number please” from the central operator. The internet gives us instant access to news, or interesting facts by doing a search. There are so many more things now giving us instant results that the need to exercise patience is lost. But James says “Be patient” and gives us reasons why. I guess we need to learn how to be patient, huh? Good things are promised to us from God if we do.

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Pray

God, You are patient with us, but we tend to expect instant results from our petitions to You. I ask that You help us remember to be patient and let You work in Your time, not ours.

Go with God!