5. Patience

5a. Why is patience so important?
Patience is one of God's characteristics. He is longsuffering, kind, gentle, and patient towards us. If you are to be like Him, you are to learn patience. The patient person radiates the peace of God. Patience will be needed to deal with many of the old problems and relationships of your past. It will also be necessary as you share your faith with others. Don't try to force them to accept Christ right away. God was patient with you as He brought you to himself. You must likewise be patient with others and yourself.
Psalm 37:7	⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 40:1	¹ I waited patiently for the LORD ; he turned to me and heard my cry.
1 Peter 2:20	²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Romans 5:3-5	³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 15:4	⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance (patience)* and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. *Editors note


5b. What new patterns of life should be set?
Corresponding to the profound inward change that took place when you were born again, many outward things were also changing. When you leave your old life behind, God does not leave you in a vacuum.. He provides new interests, new joys, new concepts, new friends and new activities. There are some everyday patterns of Christian living which should become a part of your life.
Matthew 26:26	²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Luke 24:30	³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
1 Thess 5:18	¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:4	⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7	⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Acts 20:7	⁷On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
Hebrews 10:25	²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Titus 3:1	¹Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
Titus 3:8	⁸This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Titus 3:14	¹⁴Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.