“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3-4
Tuesday did not start out particularly good. When I woke, I thanked the Lord for the day and asked His direction. I knew I had to finish writing my posts for next week for this Devotional site. Then I remembered that there hadn’t been one on May 24th. Suddenly, a thought went through my mind that I needed to check my file. To my surprise, I found out I was scheduled to post this week but had written the reminder on my planner for the 31st. Thankfully, I had one ready to post for the 25th.
I tend to be extremely hard on my self when I make mistakes like this. I suppose that is one of my biggest faults – being a perfectionist. It is so much easier to have patience with others when they make mistakes, but I don’t have much patience with myself. At times like this, I have to remind myself that I am human, and will always make mistakes. God looks at our hearts, and He understands us better than we do ourselves. Sometimes I wonder if He allows things like this to happen, just to remind us that we are not perfect yet.
Maybe there are others out there who have the same problem, you are very patient with your family and friends, but get impatient with yourself. The Scripture in James tell us to “let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire.” I am sure that the Lord means for this to apply to us as well as to others. We know that the reason they put erasers on pencils and undo on our Word program is because everyone makes mistakes. Just as we forgive others, we also need to forgive ourselves.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about the different kinds of ground that the seed fell on and what resulted from it. That which fell among thorns, did not bring fruit to perfection, but look at what He said about the seed that fell on good ground:
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15.
So, we keep walking with the Lord day by day, sometimes stumbling, sometimes making what we call silly mistakes, but learning to forgive ourselves and let patience have her perfect work in us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you know our hearts, and that you see how hard we are on ourselves, but you give us grace to overcome and bring glory and honour to your Name.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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