This verse from Luke is probably one of the more well-known Bible quotes about patience. The Revised Standard Version translates it, “By your endurance, you will gain your lives.” Other translations read: In your patience, ye shall win your souls. (ASV) By going through all these things, you will keep your lives. (BBE) By holding fast, you will gain your lives. (CEB) By continuing to have faith, you will save your lives. (NCV) Stand firm and you will win life. (NIV) In your patience, you shall possess your souls. (DR) Before we start talking about the actual verse, let’s look at a couple of words by themselves.
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Bible Quotes About Patience
The definition for endurance is–bearing hardship, staying power. And of course I looked up some of the synonyms: courage, fortitude, grit, guts, patience, perseverance, resistance, strength, suffering, with standing.
Looking at a couple of those synonyms reminded me of some related scriptures. In particular the word “resistance.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(James 4:7)
Look, we are in a battle–interiorly and exteriorly and honestly only those who endure will make it to the end…or the beginning depending on how you look at things. So let’s talk about what it means to endure. If I think about physically enduring something, the first thing that comes to mind is making adjustments. Enduring something physically makes me think of being uncomfortable and when we’re uncomfortable, we try to adjust our bodies so we are more comfortable. We find a different position or location. Now let’s apply that principle spiritually.
If our spiritual strength is failing, if our resolve is growing weak, let’s make some adjustments to endure and ultimately overcome. Let’s find a different position or location–a different way.
Does your Bible reading seem dry and boring? Try a different way. Change locations, translations or find a friend or group of friends to read with. Is your prayer life stagnant? Try using a prayer journal (I give detailed instructions here) Or use a new prayer book, I list some of my favorites here.
See, the enemy wants to wear us down–slowly but surely. An all out attack is effective but obvious. The enemy knows slow and steady will win his race for our souls. The great news is, we know that too! During times of struggle and impatience, pray for an increase of the gift of fortitude. And a great little prayer or motto to keep us moving forward, “Nothing except for today.” St. Therese the Little Flower is quoted as saying that. Ladies, we can anything for one day. Anything. And if the next day greets us with more of the same, we repeat, “Nothing except for today” again to ourselves.
ellen says
Wow. I really needed to hear this,today. Hubby and I are both chronically ill,and are moving. Stress city. Thank you for reminding me it’s just for this day. Whew!
Jenny says
Ugh! Moving! That in itself is stress city! Yes, just for today. We can do anything for one day right.