Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:4

One of the hardest things we have to do in this life is to learn to live with and love ourselves in a healthy way. How can we do this? One of the keys is patience.

Patience is a virtue few of us have enough of, especially with ourselves. “Be patient; God isn’t finished with me yet” is a saying we should repeat to ourselves daily.

It helps to keep an eternal perspective. We won’t be “finished” in this lifetime. With God’s help, we can keep headed in that direction, especially as we persevere on the journey. And we can take comfort in His promise that “the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory…[will] perfect,establish, strengthen, and settle” us. With that kind of promise, we can afford to be patient.

God wants us to acknowledge His part in our lives and be grateful for the good we see. But our tendency is to judge ourselves by how far we have to go rather than how far we’ve come. Let’s thank God daily for the progress we’re making-and resolve to keep moving, with His love and guidance.

Thought: Today I will try to be patient with myself and others, knowing that God is patient with me. I will thank Him for the good work He is doing in my life.

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