Praying for patience

[dch1983]

…is it wrong? I have never heard anything of the sort personally but a friend of mine said he has been told recently that this is something we should not pray for…

???

any thoughts?

thanks.

 

[baltobetsy]

I see nothing wrong with praying for any kind of virtue or spiritual improvement. Who told your friend this? Someone reliable and authoritative? Is it possible your friend misunderstood?

Betsy

 

[bpbasilphx]

If you pray for patience, don’t expect to be given a big plateful of warm fuzzies.

Instead, you’ll be given LOTS of oppportunities to exercise what little patience you have.

 

[Matas]

If you pray for patience, don’t expect to be given a big plateful of warm fuzzies.

Instead, you’ll be given LOTS of oppportunities to exercise what little patience you have.

Amen. I found out. LOTS.

 

[dch1983]

I see nothing wrong with praying for any kind of virtue or spiritual improvement. Who told your friend this? Someone reliable and authoritative? Is it possible your friend misunderstood?

Betsy

no, that’s definitely what he was told. this isn’t something that’s really troubling him anymore. he asked me and I basically said what everyone here has echoed - that it won’t be handed to you on a silver platter but there is nothing inherently wrong with praying for it…

…at least I didn’t think so. it sounded ridiculous but parhaps I had missed something.

 

[water]

Let’s see what could happen to one when he/she does not have patience?

• he jumps to conclusion and judge people in some situations.
• he yells at his loved ones.
• he complains a lot.
• he curses at people for driving slow on highway; he drives fast to get home and this might cause accident.
• he gives up on praying so quick.
• he will have lack of motivation in doing many things.
• he might not be a good listener to his loved ones.

… and many more! As you see, without patience, a man’s pride can take over him. He will have greater chance to commit sins. Thus, we ought to pray for patience. It is one of the virtual that we need to ask the Holy Spirit to grant us.

 

[Snowball]

Patience is one of the “fruits of the Holy Spirit”.
It is a Grace we’ve been given…but we have to put it into practice !!! Personally, I’m always asking God to help me in that department…just those couple of minutes of taking time out to ask…calms me down instantly…That’s God and prayer at work.

 

[turtle18]

Now I find that many things (not all) that I pray for I have to pray for a really long time before they are granted. I guess it is God’s way of seeing if I really want it or not.

I’ve been praying for patience almost every day for five years. I have noticed a miraculous turnaround!! There are still some times when I snap, but I use to snap everyday all the time at everything. I truly feel blessed by the Holy Spirit.

 

[patientone]

Great points from Water. Patience is a virtue that can improve with prayer…One day at a time.

 

[water]

Patience is one of the “fruits of the Holy Spirit”.
It is a Grace we’ve been given…but we have to put it into practice !!! Personally, I’m always asking God to help me in that department…just those couple of minutes of taking time out to ask…calms me down instantly…That’s God and prayer at work.

Great points from Water. Patience is a virtue that can improve with prayer…One day at a time.

I think Snowball used the right term - fruits of the Holy Spirit.

 

[quiet52]

…is it wrong? I have never heard anything of the sort personally but a friend of mine said he has been told recently that this is something we should not pray for…

???

any thoughts?

thanks.

You mean you haven’t heard the prayer “Give me patience, Lord, and give it to me NOW!”?

 

[catechumen08]

I personally don’t see anything wrong with praying for patience at all. I’ve done it myself on many occasions. Did your friend say why he thought it’s not a good idea?