“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
My mother is the most longsuffering woman I know. She is the baby of 13 siblings and, throughout her life, has experienced many hurts, betrayals, false accusations, and just plain old wrong actions done against her by those who were supposed to love her. However, nothing has made her bitter against them. Nothing has caused her to turn her back on them and choose to live in some unknown place far away. No matter what her siblings do, she loves them, forgives them, and treats them like they’ve done nothing wrong. I never understood it. If it was me, I would’ve tried to get as far away from them as possible, but not my mother. She spearheads the planning of family reunions and gatherings. She loves her family in a way I can only hope to imitate. Maybe it’s because she lost her mother at 17 and knew her mother always wanted her family to stay together. Maybe it’s her many years working in nursing homes and as a home health aid, caring for those who couldn’t care for themselves. Maybe it’s simply a work God has done in her heart just as He is doing in mine and yours.
What does it mean to be longsuffering? It means you put up with a lot. One offense doesn’t send you packing your bags and calling it quits. It means you love someone, and you understand everyone makes mistakes. It also means when you forgive, you treat them like they’ve never done you wrong. There’s a reason why this is a fruit of the Spirit because we don’t have it in us to operate this way. We need Holy Spirit to help produce this longsuffering characteristic of God in our lives. Will you accept the challenge with me, my sister, to become more longsuffering? It will strengthen our relationship with God and with others.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for being longsuffering toward me. You’ve forgiven me more times than I can count. You treat me as if I’ve done nothing wrong. Thank you for how you love me. Help me be longsuffering. No matter what I have to go through to be more like you, I accept the challenge your Holy Spirit is giving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor K Trippet you have really reached a core today that only the Holy Spirit can reveal. I thank you for driving the ball home so to speak. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to use you I pray this in Jesus name Amen.
Profound devotional today Kesha…PROFOUND!
Sister Kesha,
You’re knocking at my door. This is a very hard one for me. I will remain prayerful. With God’s help I will overcome. Peace and blessings to all.
✝️❤️🙏🏾
Father, thank You for dressing me in Your characteristic of long-suffering. For You know I need to put on long-suffering as one of Your elects to be conformed to the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. But God, You know I can’t do this without Your Holy Spirit working within me leading and guiding me unto all truth!!! I ask You, Father, to help me to hear Your voice and follow it closely. Thank You that You know me, for I know that all things work together for good to them that love You, to them(me) who are the called according to Your purpose. Knowing that tribulations works patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope. For Your are my Hope, because You predestined this plan for me before the beginning of this foundation. It’s only by Your love, grace, and mercy. Helping my steps to be ordered by You!!!❤️❤️❤️
Sister Kesha, Amen, Amen, And Amen. 💕💐💜💕💐💜
Well said my sister. And the whole church says Amen and AMEN 🙏🏽
Wow Praise the Lord this really hit me hard to know that longsuffering is a fruit that we all need to have the world would be so different healing can take place going back to its original state hatred would be so hard to hold onto if we ask the Holy Spirit to help us to obtain that fruit i felt like the writer of this devo why should i be nice when family treats you bad friends walk away but my mom used to say you can kill more flies with honey than bitterness, so this devo hit right where it needed to so now i can look at thing the way God intended. Thank You Holy Spirit, when I’m not activating in your power im acting on my own devices. Help me Lord to continuously walk in the fruit of longsuffering. In Jesus Name AMEN!!!!
What a word of truth. Yes part of the Fruit of the Spirit. What has always bless my spirit about the Fruit of the Spirit is that first fruit is love. Without love there can’t be any others Love hedges on the others. Oh my do we need long suffering spirit thank you for the reminder because I don’t make it all the time.God I want you to get the glory of of my life