Colossians 1:11. "Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." MADE STRONG. It is not in ourselves that this spiritual strength comes, It comes from the Holy Spirit within. The power of His glory and authority linked with His name, Is far greater than any ability of men. To produce this moral excellence, God increases our faith, As His Word becomes real to our souls. Even as Paul prayed for them that this would be the case, I too, pray for those saints of God I know.
There is a definite change I know in some who were impatient, There were times when their temper took control. Now they seem to have learned through tribulations sent, That God allows these difficulties to come and go; So others as well as ourselves know that God has done something That is way beyond changing some habits that were wrong. There are lessons to be learned and inward changes that do spring, From one who was weak, but now has been made strong.
A lot of people will say, "I guess that is just the way I am, I was born like this, so I guess like this I'll stay." But when we come to know the Lord, we find strength in Jesus' name, To bring short tempers to an end after we take time to pray. God in His grace can make us strong, so there's a fundamental change, And that temper that once was so short, is now by grace, made long. We may not understand all the changes, and even think it's passing-strange, That most of our strongest habits now are gone.
In this transformation there is another thing that stands out; Joy is there to be found in almost every situation. In the past when I didn't get my way, I might complain or have a pout On my face hoping for the other person's capitulation. Now amazingly there is a joy that arises from within, And I can see many reasons for joy to be made known. I now realize that complaints and grudges are really sins, And faith in Christ, by my joy, can visibly be shown.
"O God of all grace: the fact of knowing Thee more and more has wonderful lasting effects. Instead of agitation, there is patience. Instead of a short temper, there is a long one. Instead of grumbling, there is joy - and I thank Thee for this. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."