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"THE POWER OF PATIENCE.""He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Proverbs 16:32)Whenever I read this verse, I can't help but think about the Book of Esther and all that transpired involving Mordecai and Haman. The events in Esther took place after Israel had been conquered. Many of the Jewish people now lived as exiles in foreign lands. One of main characters in Esther is that dirty-dealing, hot-headed bragging Persian official by the name of Haman, and it was well known around town that he had an all-out hatred for the Jewish people.In chapter 3 of Esther, we read where the king had promoted Haman over all of the other officials. The king had also commanded the people to bow down and pay homage to Haman. I can almost visualize Haman's head becoming so big over such an honor bestowed upon him, that no hat would be found anywhere to fit it.Now along comes a Jewish man by the name of Mordecai who refused to bow down to Haman. He had some intestine fortitude about him, and you just can't help but like a guy like that who has the guts to do what is right no matter come what may! Well, the refusal of Mordecai to bow down to Haman made Haman furious. When Haman learned that Mordecai was a Jew, the thermometer reading of his anger rose to an all-time high. Do you remember what Haman's anger drove him to do next? That scallywag devised and plotted the demise of not just Mordecai, but all of the Jews in the kingdom.Earlier on, Mordecai had discovered that some of the king’s officials were planning to overthrow the king. Mordecai exposed the plan and protected the king but did not receive any public recognition for his honorable deed. But Mordecai did not become bitter or angry about that oversight.When Mordecai became aware of Haman’s plan to destroy all of the Jews in Persia, he wept and fasted at the king’s gate. He also enlisted the help of his niece, Esther, who had been providentially, made Queen. Eventually, Queen Esther was able to expose Haman’s wicked plan to the King while hosting a dinner party with the king and Haman as her guests and her people were saved from destruction.The story of Haman and Mordecai shows how this verse in Proverbs I posted above can unfold in real life. Haman was mighty and had the upper hand, but he was bitter, angry, and extremely temperamental individual. He had control of the city of Susa, but he didn't have control over his own spirit. In the end, we see Haman’s pride and lack of self-control lead to his demise on the same gallows he had had built for Mordecai to dangle from by hanging.Mordecai, however, is a model of courageous patience and humility. He doesn’t seek power and honor. He doesn’t demand recognition. Even when he is hated, oppressed, and his very life is threatened, he doesn’t lash out. He responds with discernment and righteousness. And in doing so, he helps save his people from complete annihilation. In the end, his ability to “rule his spirit” and be “slow to anger” led to his elevation and promotion in the kingdom.You know, it can be tempting to think of self-restraint and patient submission as signs of weakness. Our culture tends to value people who fight back and don’t let others “walk all over them.” But that is not the pattern found in the Scriptures. Over and over again in the Bible we see that there is great power in patience and self-control. Perhaps the greatest example is found in the life of Jesus!Friends, do you struggle with anger? Are you prone to lash out and lose your temper and say words that were never a part of your vocabulary? If so, ask God to help you learn to “rule your spirit.” There is great strength in self-control and there is power in patience.