Tag Archive | Praise

Don’t Give Up!

Oct3

Back in September, we read  David’s story

It was a story about loss, and persistence, and restoration.

Here it is again, in a nutshell;

David – Returned home to find that his entire village had been destroyed. Not one living thing was left, not one building standing. His wife and children were taken away, and he had no way of knowing whether they were alive or dead. Here’s what David (and his men) did. You can read this account in 1 Samuel 30. Here’s what he did –

1. He wept bitterly, until all of his strength was gone.

2. He then found strength in the Lord his God.

3. He inquired of the Lord to see what he should do (He prayed)

4. He took a portion of his men with him and pursued the enemy. He got EVERYTHING back, and then some. God honored the fact that he did not quit, but that he and a small number believed God could restore. (Nation, Families, Finances, Churches)

Now here is another story, this time about Daniel;

Daniel – Chapter 9. Now Daniel finished reading the scrolls and saw that the captivity was coming to an end. He could have said hip-hip-hooray and stopped praying, but he didn’t. He didn’t stop crying out to God, he called out to God what He had already promised! Three things he did –

1. He repented, for his sin AND the sin of his people.

2. He interceded. He took the promises of God’s word and brought them before Him all the more.

3. He gave thanks. He gave thanks for what He had done and what He would do. He thanked Him for His promises and covenants.

Both of these men could have given up. They could have stopped. They could have taken the freedom God gave them, and hidden themselves away. They never would have gotten the promises of God fulfilled in their lives.

Instead, they were persistent. First in their belief that God would care for them, and then, in their tenacity to continue moving forward, through pain and loss, to receive the prize at the end of the line.

The questions here for you and I are these;

  1. Will we persist?
  2. Will we believe God?
  3. Will we go on until we reach the prize?

To be sure, there are prizes here on this earth that are worth fighting for, but in reality, they will all fade away.

My persistence will lead not only to some of these, but to the ultimate prize – Living in the Presence of God. In His kingdom. Forever.

Pretty sure of this am I?

Yes.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  Romans 8:35
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  Psalm 16:11

 

How about you?
Are you sure?

Perseverance

Jul13

Another look back. This time to March 11, 2010. Cycle Drawing

After looking back, with the thought in mind about cycles, I began to think that one “cycle” in life that would be of benefit to us, would be the one where we persistently, tenaciously, strive after God.

At times I strive for him deeply, while at other times, my mind and body just do not want to cooperate.

It took many years for me to find out that these cycles are normal, and that if I slow down a bit, rest adequately, and don’t believe all the negative press I give myself, that these cycles pass. As I told a friend recently, “They didn’t come to stay, they came to pass.”

The 2010 writing is as follows;

James 1:4 stopped me in my tracks this morning.

Here’s how it reads; Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I’ve been asking God about some things lately that seem to go on and on and on. When I read this verse, I had to read it again and again and again.

Then I did a little word study, and here’s what I found. There is a “Crafted Prayer” at the end.

The dictionary I used was a Websters, copyright 1989, and the concordance was the NIV Exhaustive Concordance, copyright 1990.

Dictionary definitions; Numbered definitions are from the original Greek.

Perseverance – Being persistent. A continuing in a state of grace, leading to a state of glory.
Persevere – To try hard and continuously in spite of obstacles and difficulties.
5705 – Endurance (patient, great) persistence. Standing firm, endure patiently.
Mature – Having reached a state of full natural development. Relating to a time when development is complete. Involving or arrived at after prolonged, careful thought. 5455 – Perfect, adult, perfection.
Complete – Nothing missing or lacking. Absolute, entire. To perfect, round off. 3908 – Whole.
Lacking – Short of, without. That which is missing or needed. 3309 – Not having everything needed.

Lord, Help me to hold on to You in spite of the obstacles I face, so that I may bring You glory. Help me to patiently stand firm until my development in You is complete. Help me to give careful thought to Your word, until my growth has nothing missing or broken. Help me to be completely whole, having nothing needed.

Let Your glory be shown in me.

Persist with me. Persist with Him.

Nothing missing, nothing broken. Won’t that be glorious?

Amen