Grow in Patience – Dyed4you Art

Grow in Patience reminds us to embrace patience doing it’s perfect work in our hearts – allow it to grow and expand – so that our natures will become more and more like the One who made us. 

  • Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
  • James 1:4 (NKJV) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

A Prophetic Nugget from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Godly Patience, a Tangible Love.”

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…

Beloved, remember that your actions reflect on Me. Whether you are aware or not, people watch to see how you react and respond to people and situations. They want to know if relationship with Me and My presence in a person really make a difference. Pause and ponder what messages you send about Me and if they’re the ones you want and intend to send.

I’ve instructed you to bear with one another in love. Just as I AM patient and long-suffering with you, I have asked you to do likewise with those around you. Reflect Me. Reflect My heart. Show that the fruit of My Spirit in you is a godly patience that operates in true, tangible love. Let that fruit be manifest for all to see for it is good. 

Ephesians 4:2 (GW) Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other.

Another Prophetic Nugget from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Be My Love with Skin On.”

Note [included with the original Prophetic Nuggets which were birthed one right after the other]: in scripture, things were often repeated for emphasis in the same way we bold or italicize things now. So when God chooses to repeat something, He’s saying, “This is important.” With that said, I smiled when He launched into a second nugget on this scripture.

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…

Beloved, it is never worth wounding someone’s heart over your schedule, your “rights”, or your pride. No matter how pressed for time you may feel, the people I place around you are there by design. They are opportunities to be My love. The frazzled checkout clerk who has been swamped all day may desperately need your smile rather than yet another frustrated customer who is short with them.

You may never know what’s going on behind the scenes. You may never know what fruit your actions bring, but I do. I see when your moment of kindness tilts the balance in that person’s life so they choose life for one more day rather than giving up. You may not know the full impact your actions have, but that doesn’t mean your actions aren’t having impact.

So choose to kill your flesh. Cultivate patience. Respond in love even when the world would say you have a “right” to be affronted. Be My love with skin on. Bear fruit and bear it abundantly.

A crystalline affirmation from Meghan Williams is connected to this. It reads in first person so it can become your declaration. It’s called “Vessel of Peace.”

I am a vessel of peace. I attract peace all around me. From my place of stillness, patience naturally flows. Tranquility is the atmosphere that surrounds me.

Another Prophetic Nugget from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Demonstrate Godly Wisdom.”

James 3:13 (NLT) If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

Beloved, lead by example, but do so as one who knows My ways that you may not lead others astray. Walk in righteousness – fully aligned with My Word. Do good and love well. Be a person of humility, and one who walks in honor. 

See with My eyes and be lead by My Spirit. Be kind and long suffering. May you extend patience beyond even that which you’d hope to receive. Let all this fruit demonstrate your godly wisdom to choose to walk with Me.

A post by Meghan Williams from MeghanW.com is connected to this. It’s called “Divine Interruptions.”

Years ago, a guest speaker at church shared a profound idea that has stuck with me ever since. For me it was a paradigm shift. He challenged us to remember that our agenda is not  always the same as God’s agenda, so often the things we view as “interruptions” or “disturbances” are actually the very things God wants to see come forth. 

It’s a sobering reminder to hold our plans loosely and be ready for God to call a switch. The benefit of holding things more loosely is that it makes extending patience more simple because we’re not so attached to the outcome. I may have planned to visit the store and get in and out quickly, but God may have someone there in need of a kind word and a moment of connection. Whose plans are aligned with the highest good?

As we yield our will to His and surrender our plans to His perfect will, we step into a grace-filled place where we’re open to “divine interruptions,” and truly what an honor to be a willing vessel for God to move through. 

A prophetic download called “Moving at the Speed of Grace” from Elisa Eaton of Waiting in the Wings is connected to this.

{vision} I saw a road sign which showed that the speed limit was 55. There was a blurred line through the middle of the 55, and I knew words were printed there.

I saw this vision just before I opened my eyes one morning. I sensed this was a “sign” of the spiritual speed limit for my day. Immediately, I knew the “55” represented a multiplication of grace. I also recognized that the words that I couldn’t read on the sign symbolized a “word” that God had for me through the vision. This word would clarify a repeated message He had been speaking in the Spirit: “Slow down.”

I have heard the words “slow down” at various times each day for months. It usually happens while I’m working or trying to juggle multiple tasks. At other times, I hear it when I’m not necessarily busy doing anything, but I may be busy thinking through many things. 

When I hear “slow down,” it triggers irritation. In my walk with God, I’ve learned that if His words irritate me, it’s because I don’t truly understand their meaning. His heart is always loving towards us, even in correction. And when understanding comes, I always experience a sense of peace. Therefore, I know that irritating words signify the Father’s desire to address an area of wounding within my heart. 

I admit that hearing “slow down” when I was approaching a work deadline or needed to make a quick life decision only added more stress onto my plate! So why would God tell me to “slow down” when I needed to move as fast as possible? With time, I began to see that God wasn’t trying to micromanage my day; He was addressing the attitude of my heart at the moment. 

Every time He says “slow down” to me, hidden beliefs of shame, guilt, and fear are swirling in the back of my mind. As a recovering perfectionist, I often struggle to feel like anything I do is good enough. When my self-criticism is left unchecked, it can devolve into harsh judgment about my life and the person I am. Believing these lies drive me to strive in the flesh. In a sense, I don’t feel like I am moving fast enough in life to accomplish the things God has called me to do. This behavior always leaves me feeling miserable, unloved, and unappreciated. 

The only antidote to striving is to slow down, take critical thoughts of the flesh captive, and then rest in the grace that God extends to us through Christ. We can make ourselves miserable if we’re not careful to align our thoughts with God’s thoughts. In particular, our expectations and standards must align with God’s, for His way is the way of love and righteousness.

When I choose to realign my thoughts with God, I can see my life through His eyes. I remember that my value isn’t in the things that I can or cannot accomplish; my intrinsic value lies in the fact that I am a child of God. This doesn’t mean that our calling or purpose in life is meaningless. We simply must be careful not to make an idol out of it. 

If anything, God is always at my side to help me in my weakness. I don’t have to do all He has called me to do in my own strength, and I don’t have to get it all perfect. I can move along the road of life at the speed of grace. When I choose to abide by the law of grace, I notice that I am supernaturally empowered throughout my days. I actually get more done through God’s strength than I can on my own! Even more, gratitude and joy arise from my inner being because I can truly enjoy every moment life offers—even the busiest ones.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (TPT) But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.

Another Prophetic Nugget from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “More Like You {Moments with God}.

Psalm 86:5 (TPT) Lord, you are so good to me, so kind in every way and ready to forgive, for your grace-fountain keeps overflowing, drenching all your lovers who pray to you.

{With a heart filled with gratitude} Father, thank You for Your steadfast love. Thank You for Your overflowing grace. I need it and I receive it. I am grateful beyond words. The magnitude of Your love for me is completely incomprehensible. Your goodness and Your patience are more than I can understand. 

{In prayerful petition} Help me to be more like You. Help my heart to mirror Yours. I want to be just like You because the impact of Your grace truly is amazing. So in the same way, may I mirror that grace to those around Me. May I walk in humble patience and understanding. May my heart be filled with compassion. May I be more like You.

{His whispered reply} My grace is sufficient, and My love sustains, so trust Me to see you through. As you yield to My plans and trust in My ways, My hands are molding you. It’s with love that I chasten and grace I extend every time you’re in need. For you are precious and prized – the apple of My eye, and your heart means the world to Me.

A portion of the word from Dyed4you Art’s “Heartbeat of Heaven” is connected to this. 

As you remain close to the King’s heart, it will help you release His cadence into the earth. Tap into the sound of the beat of His heart. Let that sound flow through you for it will also move the feet of His people. 

You don’t have to look to others to know the time. For as each instrument of the Body stays aligned in the Spirit, all will sense and stay attuned to His time. Be bold, tap in, and release the sound.

Even in the creation of this piece, God emphasized timing. It felt almost as though it was being delayed, but then all the pieces came together in a glorious crescendo. This was a beautiful reminder for us to be willing to have patience, and let the power of that patience build. We always need to operate in that patience, and not rush the tempo. That way when the time comes for release the sound has such a powerful release that nothing can stop its rolling thunder from bringing unity in the body of Christ.

A final Prophetic Nugget from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “May the Overflow of Your Heart Mirror Mine.”

Ephesians 4:2 (TLB) Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Beloved, see with My eyes the motivations of man. Refuse to be affronted, but rather allow the fruit of the Spirit to pour forth from you as you move in patience, grace, and forgiveness. Act in a manner that you would have someone act towards a loved one in their moment of weakness.

Refuse to allow disunity, resentment, or anger to take root. Release any feelings of frustration and instead allow compassion to well up from within you. May the overflow of your heart mirror Mine that others may see and know Me by your actions alone.

{Artist note} As I went to send off a Prophetic “Portrait” that constituted the fourth in this unintentional series on the fruits of the Spirit (Grow in Strength of Spirit), I sensed a “wait” from Holy Spirit. And so I did. In time, I grew increasingly frustrated because I didn’t understand why I was waiting. I asked God a whole host of questions without getting an answer or directive that made sense to me.

Then, after what seemed like an inordinate amount of time (but in reality was about 24 hours), I finally asked if God was waiting for me to create the next piece in the series. I got a resounding yes. The irony was not lost on me when, after all my waiting and frustration, God highlighted patience as the next fruit to explore. 

The visual of the turtle (technically tortoise) was brought to mind, and the old tale that slow and steady wins the race. But if we pause to think about this concept, turtles just move at the pace they were designed to. And while that speed may not seem fast compared to the hare, it is steady progress to be admired. This is a great reminder to be patient with each person as they move at their own speed.

I remember when I was younger, harassing my parents to make decisions faster. This was because I was overeager. However, the fact is my parents always made room to pause and pray about things. And while my child self didn’t appreciate the patience this required, my adult self is so grateful for the lesson. 

Another point Spirit highlighted with this piece was that we have two turtles, one behind the other, and no way to go around. This made me think of being stuck behind someone going slowly in traffic and that sense of impotent frustration we can have (especially if we’re in a rush). I often have to remind myself that the driver in front of me maybe somebody’s elderly parent or someone who has experienced trauma in a car accident and now drives extremely cautiously; whatever their story, they’re providing me with an opportunity for patience.

In fact, opportunities to be patient surround us all the time—flesh-killing opportunities! Just thinking of this reminds me of Scripture’s exhortation to “bear with one another in love.” Such a profound reminder. May we all extend grace to each other and have abundant fruit of patience!

Father, thank You for letting patience do it’s work in us that we might reflect Your character and nature all the more. And thank You for the grace You give us when we fall short; may we also extend it to ourselves and simply seek to do better in future.