Finding Patience and Prudence*
Being patient, better yet...having patience and prudence...what a great combo.
All the stuff that goes on in life today usually happens so quickly, you hardly get a chance to see it go by. In fact, you often get the feeling that if you aren't making decisions quickly, that somehow you will "miss the boat."
It's no wonder God is very specific in His Word about patience and prudence.
Proverbs 22:3 (New Living Translation), "A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
Prudence isn't exactly one of those common, everyday words so just in case you're not clear, the definition of prudence is:
1. caution with regard to practical matters; discretion. 2. regard for one's own interests. 3. provident care in the management of resources; economy; frugality.
That's not to say you are to be miserly with your resources or only be concerned about your own welfare. Rather, it relates to making decisions AFTER you've taken the time to gather all the facts, NOT before. And of course, this entire process requires patience.
Patience is something you develop as you find yourself in the middle of a situation that requires it. UGH. That means the only time you can
practice patience is when you HAVE to because of your current circumstances. So just a warning, if you ask God to give you more patience, you can bet you'll find yourself in a situation where you're going to need it!
But that's not a reason for depression and anxiety. It is actually an opportunity to get good at a quality that will always be needed.
And remember, being both patient and prudent doesn't mean things are going to magically fall into place. If it isn't God's timing, things aren't going to move any faster. But the wait will be a lot more pleasant if you're not all stressed out.
Whenever a situation arises that requires patience and prudence, it is almost always an opportunity to grow in some area. God always uses these times to bring something out of you that needs to come out and stay out.
But, if you fail the test, and are impatient, God will put you right back in another situation to see if you've learned anything. I guess you might as well use the patience and prudence God gave you, pass the test, and get on with life. Otherwise, you'll be taking yet another trip around the same mountain. What a concept...
Here are some scriptures from the amplified Bible that specifically deal with patience and prudence:
Ecclesiastes 7:8: Better is the end thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Galatians 6:9: And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
I Thessalonians 5:14-15: And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line (the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly); encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, and be very patient with everybody (always keeping your temper).
See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.
In Proverbs 22:3 (New Living Translation), it says "A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
*http://www.christian-books-for-women.com/patience-and-prudence.html
I Don't Have the Patience to Lose Weight!*
Do you feel that you lack sufficient patience
to lose weight? I mean, does the idea of losing a maximum of 2 pounds of fat, per week, drive you crazy with impatience? If so, you are suffering from "Now-Now-Now Syndrome".
Now-Now-Now Syndrome
Background Story
A few years ago in Brazil, a man in a restaurant was asked to wait an extra five minutes for his T-bone steak. He responded by shooting the waiter in the foot and when his own wife objected, he stabbed her in the eye with a sausage and knocked her unconscious with a dinner-plate. Result? He went to prison for eighteen months. Hmm. See how dangerous impatience can be?
Impatience and Weight Loss
Of all the obstacles to losing weight, impatience is the worst.
We get on the scales and discover we're 10 pounds heavier! OR...
We go shopping and discover we're a size bigger than we thought! OR...
We catch sight of a new bulge in our stomach.
How do we react?
Do we calmly assess the situation?
Do we carefully consider our options?
Do we soberly make plans to solve the problem?
No. We don't do any of these things.
Instead...
Stage 1.
We get hysterical.
We throw a tantrum.
We feel disgusted with ourselves.
We despair.
Stage 2.
We try to purge the problem.
We search for instant Now-Now-Now solutions.
We don't want real answers. Because real answers take time. And we don't have time, right? We need Now-Now-Now answers that will solve everything, RIGHT NOW!
So we stop eating, or take pills, or laxatives. Hang the cost. Never mind that none of these miracle-products work. We don't care.
Because we're frothing! We're in a Now-Now-Now frenzy.
We say things like:
I'm NEVER going to eat ANYTHING bad EVER again!
I'm DEFINITELY going to CHANGE COMPLETELY!
Because from now on we are going to be PERFECT.
Ho Hum.
Stop! Stop shooting the waiter in the foot.
Okay, you've put on weight. Okay, your stomach may be too fat. Okay, none of your clothes may fit you. Okay, you REALLY want to lose weight.
But don't shoot the waiter. Because this is going to make everything worse.
Instead, be cool.
Be Cool
Being cool means fixing the problem, instead of frothing about it.
It means:
Changing Your Bad Eating Habits
- Avoid junk.
- Eat more 'natural' foods.
- Go easy on the butter and mayo.
- Boil or grill, instead of frying.
- Stop eating packet snacks: eat more fruit.
- Eat little and often.
None of These Things Are "Difficult" !!!
"Difficult" is looking for a size 24 bikini.
"Difficult" is understanding a menu when you can't read.
"Difficult" is carrying an extra 60 pounds around on your body, each day
Asking for a sandwich without butter and mayo is "easy".
Not eating toffee popcorn is "easy".
Eating fruit for snacks is "very easy".
Taking Exercise
Taking exercise is real easy. You put one foot in front of the other and off you go!
Exercise Tips:
• If you're still at school and play regular sports, you DON'T have to take extra exercise
• If you're a housewife with a 24/7 schedule you DO have to. Because running around after 6 kids, 2 dogs and a husband is not the same as 'taking exercise'. Why not? Because proper exercise is INVIGORATING and GIVES you energy. But looking after a family simply drains you. So find 20-30 minutes a day from somewhere and MOVE YOUR BODY!
• If you're 40+, you need even MORE exercise. 20-30 minutes a day may not be enough. Aim for 60 minutes.
• If you are a busy executive with 6 kids, 2 dogs, 1 husband and a cute admirer in the office, you've got serious problems. In order to cope, you need as much health and energy as possible. So make certain you take a minimum of 30 minutes exercise a day.
Conclusion
• Being cool means FIXING the problem, instead of frothing about it.
• Getting impatient, venting about how overweight you are and then trying to lose weight FAST is the exact opposite.
• But I'm sure that in your heart-of-hearts, you know this already.
*http://www.annecollins.com/patience-to-lose-weight.htm
Photos: elev8.com, kristinasaid.wordpress.com
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