The ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown.

Verses for the week: Below is a passage and a reflective thought for each day of the upcoming week.

Monday: Read - Luke 15:11-32 How does this story speak to you about Gods love and patience for you? For others?

Tuesday:1 Samuel 1:10-11 Hannah had every reason to lose patience with God, given all her years of being barren and childless. In her anguish she cried out to God. How can you find hope in Hannah’s story as you ponder areas in your life that bring anguish, or where you find it hard to have patience?

Wednesday: James 5:10-11 When someone exhibits great endurance through all kinds of trials, annoyances, or challenges, we say that person has “the patience of Job”. Who do you know that is like this? How can we find hope in the story of Job?

Thursday: Isaiah 40:30-31 A popular passage for many. What was Isaiah trying to tell the people of Israel, and what can we too take from these powerful words? What are the promises here?

Friday: 2 Peter 3:9 Where has God shown His patience directly to you? Reflect on the goodness and patience of God in your life.

Saturday: Psalm 40:1-5, Psalm 37:7 List all the promises of God here for those who wait patiently on Him! What areas of your life do you need to hand over to Him and ask Him for patience with?

Sunday: Proverbs 16:32 How does patience empower us? Where have you seen this? Where are you hoping to see this in the future?

Group reflection questions for the week:

1. Does today's society and way of living encourage one to be patient? Why or why not?

2. What are areas where you feel you are good at exhibiting patience? Where are you weak? What are the main differences in situations when you are and are not patient?

3. What do you think of with the following definition of patience: the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown?

4. The Bible also frequently mentions a promise along with patience and perseverance. Here are some additional verses from the ones above. (Psalm 37:7-9, 37:34, 40:1-3, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 6:12, 10:36, James 5:7-8). What are these promises and others from the verses studied this week?

5. . If you have prayed for something over and over and over and God just seems to be ignoring you, how do you feel? What should we do?

   Pray as a group: Thank God for His patience with us, and for strength and wisdom to grow in His fruit of patience.