Whatever weakness that we may have, we have to make sure that we overcome it by putting it into God’s hands, asking Him for help which should eliminate the weakness, thereby making us stronger.
Michael Link
How Persistent Are We?
What is persistency? It is defined as continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action, in spite of difficulty or opposition. It is a habitual behavior pattern, continuing to exist or endure, or occurring repeatedly over a prolonged period.
How persistent are we in prayer? Whenever we ask God for something, does He answer right away? Sometimes He may, but often times He won’t. That does not mean however that we should stop trying. If we know that it’s for a good cause, then we continue to ask, and we are always thankful. Colossians 4:2 tells us that we must continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
Persistency pays off. We do pray about the same things over and over again, don’t we? However, our prayers shouldn’t be vain repetitions–just words coming out of our mouths, a script that we read every day–but we pray about such things that we care for. When one of us is sick, do we pray once about it, or do we pray continuously until he or she is healthy? Even then we don’t stop praying because we thank God and ask Him to continue to be with that individual, to keep him or her strong and healthy. When we love somebody, do we tell that person once that we love them or do we tell them repeatedly?
How persistent are we in our Bible study? Yes, we can come up with excuses for not being diligent and persistent in this regard. We are all very preoccupied in our busy lives, but as we continuously hear about the importance of Bible study, even 10 minutes of meaningful study is very fruitful. We just have to make it a habit!
Prayer and Bible study are part of our tools to live our lives successfully. How persistent are we in running our spiritual race? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 admonishes us to run our spiritual race “in such a way” that we “may obtain” the prize.
Our zeal for God’s Kingdom must be continuing. We must have zeal to win. We have to have faith and trust that we can finish the race. We have to believe in God and what He promises us, and that we can always go to God for help in times of need, so that we can be successful.
Let us imagine a physical race, and let us compare it with our spiritual calling. Before we may run a big race, there are certain fears that we must overcome. We have to stay focused, not becoming distracted by our surroundings. We have to make sure that we are attentive because a false start could get us disqualified. One false start gives us a warning, but now we have extra pressure built upon us, because one more false start, and we’re out of the race. As we run our race, we have to look straight ahead. We must not look back, but we must stay on course by not drifting from side to side, into someone else’s path. We must stay on our own path. Now we run as hard and as fast as we can, giving it our all, striving for that finish line and obtaining that prize. Finishing the race is what’s important. We don’t give up.
But, as opposed to a physical race, where only the top three will receive medals, the spiritual race rewards all those who finish, who never give up, but who have been approved, as it says in James 1:12. Is this the attitude we have so we can obtain our prize? Are we this dedicated when it comes to God’s plan for us?
We have to be persistent in whatever we do, and especially in spiritual matters which are very important to God. We must always remember that all the blessings that we receive and all that we have comes from God. So, let’s be thankful and do what God requires of us. Let us continue to be persistent in all things, including in our prayers and Bible study, so we can finally receive the ultimate prize.
Dedication
How dedicated are we in our physical and spiritual lives? The Bible shows us just how important it is for us to be dedicated to God’s law and His plan for us. If we are indeed truly dedicated, we will be rewarded for it.
Commitment
There are two important decisions that one makes in their lives which show commitment: baptism and marriage. Both correlate with each other since, to be married, we have to be baptized and receive God’s holy spirit. If we want to be in God’s kingdom, we need to receive His holy spirit and be married to Him so we can receive everlasting life.
Don't Take God For Granted
Things that we have been taking for granted in this life have been depleting and soaring in price, whether it’s food prices, gasoline, and cost of living. During these difficult times, we need to stay strong and look to God for intervention, thank Him for what we do have and the blessings He does give us. We should never take Him for granted on what He promises us when we do these things.
Be Patient
It is no surprise that the times we are living in become increasingly difficult, especially when the price for needed material things is skyrocketing. The price of gas is breaking records throughout the world, and as a result, other prices are being affected, like food, for example. Truckers especially are taking the hit, because they need to transport supplies to our local supermarkets, and so, food prices are being raised.
Many are becoming more conscious of their spending habits and starting to become impatient. Are we starting to feel this way? We know that it is going to get worse, and our patience will be tested more and more. God requires that we have faith during times like these, and that we should eagerly wait for Christ’s return. In the first chapter of James, verses 2-4, it says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
We certainly must not give up, but look to God for help. When we go through these trials, how is it that we should react? As we struggle during these times, “… we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance [endurance or patience]; and perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).”
We know that the end is near–that Christ will return soon. Now is not the time to give up, nor should it ever be, but we have to believe that we can make it and that we will be blessed when we endure until the end (James 5:11). Just as we have patience during these hard times, God also has a tremendous deal of patience with us. The worst case scenario would be to let Him down.
What are we to do then in these struggling times? The answer can be found in these inspired words, recorded for us in James 5:7-8: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
Our Strengths and Weaknesses
To Tame The Tongue
What should we do when we are in a situation with somebody, where what we say, how we say it and how we act can either determine a positive or negative outcome? Since we need to focus on a positive outcome, there are several principles that can be applied to do just that, so we can be a shining example to those we converse with.
Count Your Blessings
Never Give Up!
How strongly are we committed to the truth and God’s way of life? We may sometimes have that feeling of quitting, having doubt or a lack of faith, and that kind of thinking could even bring us to the point of giving up. We have to be careful that we don’t think that way.
In the 13th chapter of Matthew, Christ talks about the parable of the sower. In verse 19 He states, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”
We must be diligent in understanding the truth, and we do that by studying God’s Word and asking God for His wisdom and understanding. Satan the devil is very eager to draw us away from God’s truth, and He loves it when we stumble.
Instead, we are to be joyful when we hear God’s Word (verse 20). The key is that we remain joyful and enthusiastic about God’s way of life, lest we drift away, due to various trials in our lives. Verse 21 states, “… yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
Christ also describes a category of people who do know the truth but are still attached to the world in some way: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (verse 22). We cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). Being caught up in the world is a huge distraction from God’s way of life, and therefore, it is impossible to bear fruit. In verse 23 Christ states: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
We must also come to the realization that we, as converted Christians, were predestined to be called, and we were chosen for this life, to know God’s truth and His law. God has called us out of this world to a potential better life that is to come in the near future. With this understanding that we have, we must act on it, and we will be blessed far more than we can ever imagine.