Lately, I’ve found myself asking so many questions as many close family members and friends struggle with serious health challenges, heavy financial burdens, and devastating job losses. Out of the many questions, one always rises like cream to the top. I wonder why. Maybe you’ve wondered why you’re facing the giant that towers above you. You may wonder how you’re going to get through the crisis. You may be asking yourself how to respond to others around you are suffering. We have so many questions, but there is a final answer to them found in God’s Word.
Asking the question “Why?” in the midst of suffering seems pretty logical. After all, Job endured the suffering, but what plagued him most was why he suffered. He was given a host of incorrect answers from his friends, but in the end, God didn’t really answer Job’s question. Instead, God reminded Job that it was better to know Him than the answers to his questions.
When we suffer and it is not a direct consequence of sin, we have to rely on and trust in God. He’s sovereign and in control. Our final answer should be to continue to love Him and love one another with compassion.
Love is a word that’s really been watered down by the world and has come to mean much less than what God intended. The depth of God’s love cannot be measured. It’s supernatural and powerful, extending far beyond what we can imagine.
Chapter 13 in I Corinthians beautifully instructs us about love. The second verse says, “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing.” Paul lets us know that we can know the future, understand deep mysteries, have unending knowledge, and have deep faith, but without the love of God, we are nothing.
Paul goes on to explain that love suffers long. When we love as Christ loves us, we don’t look inward to ourselves, but we look up to God. God’s love causes us to be unselfish, and as a result, we love outward to others. Love automatically shifts our focus to Him instead of our problem.
Having the love of God is like putting gas in an engine. It fuels us, making our gifts and service to Him useful. In addition, God’s love enables us to go through the storms of life without caving under the pressure.
I Corinthians 13:7 explains, “[Love] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” When we are operating in God’s perfect love, we can bear all things, not just some. We can believe and trust that the Lord is going to keep his promises. Hope is always present, no matter how dismal the situation may seem. Finally, we can endure the pain, discomfort, and suffering, knowing that the Lord is going to supply our every need.
Paul tells us that the greatest of all the spiritual gifts is love. So, what is the final answer to our questions? The final answer has to be that we know that God loves us. “[Love] never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (I Cor. 13:8). God’s love never fails in any situation.
When we don’t know how to respond to life’s challenges and difficulties, remember that there is an answer and response that never fails. He loves us, and when we love Him and spread His love, we are equipped to stand strong against Satan’s attacks.
Paul says that “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We may not have the specific answers to some of the hard questions, but one day we will when we meet Him face to face.
Until then, I pray that the Lord will continue to shower you with His love and that you draw closer to Him, sharing and extending His love to others.
Love to hear from you. Drop me a line . . .
www.MaRitaTeague.net
www.MaRitaTeague.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Compassion--God's Gist
God has truly given me favor because I have been blessed to have a wonderful extension of family and friends. Kristy Joi Downing, our guest blogger for the week, is certainly counted among them.
Kristy specializes in intellectual property law and has a practice in Michigan so be sure to look her up (www.Kjdowninglaw.com). However, what's most important is that Kristy is a mighty woman of God who gives us much to reflect upon in for this week's devotion about love and compassion. Be sure to leave a comment and show her some love!
Blessings,
MaRita
Christ taught “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40. In addition, in Matthew 7:12 Jesus taught the Golden Rule: “do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Sometimes it is possible to miss the sight of the forest because we have become too concentrated on the trees. Focusing on our differences can cause us to lose sight of the most compelling premise of our faith – compassion.
One might ask some of the following questions:
1)What if you went into your local Starbucks and they criticized your drink selection, treated you oddly for the way you were dressed and/or belittled you for your ignorance of coffeehouse protocol? How often would you return?
2)What is your reaction to criticism versus your reaction to love and compassion? What then should we expect the reaction of others to be when we criticize versus demonstrating love? Was it love or criticism that encouraged you to accept Christ into your heart?
3)Why is compassion for each other so important? Is there something special about being committed to loving the people around you? 1 Cor 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
4)How is it that this principle can be the foundation and summation of all other laws/commandments? Ask yourself, “Do I treat it as such?” How can we focus on compassion being the primary aspect of our individual ministries?
5)Where we lack love there is fear. But that fear – irrespective of what it regards – is not God-sent. 2 Timothy 1:7.
While the tooth-for-a-tooth mentality yields anxiety, operating in love yields liberty and peace with God. Consider growing this week through love and compassion. Just as we cannot fully repay Christ for his sacrifice, look to share love and compassion with someone who cannot fully repay you.
Kristy Joi Downing
www.kjdowninglaw.com
Kristy specializes in intellectual property law and has a practice in Michigan so be sure to look her up (www.Kjdowninglaw.com). However, what's most important is that Kristy is a mighty woman of God who gives us much to reflect upon in for this week's devotion about love and compassion. Be sure to leave a comment and show her some love!
Blessings,
MaRita
Christ taught “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40. In addition, in Matthew 7:12 Jesus taught the Golden Rule: “do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Sometimes it is possible to miss the sight of the forest because we have become too concentrated on the trees. Focusing on our differences can cause us to lose sight of the most compelling premise of our faith – compassion.
One might ask some of the following questions:
1)What if you went into your local Starbucks and they criticized your drink selection, treated you oddly for the way you were dressed and/or belittled you for your ignorance of coffeehouse protocol? How often would you return?
2)What is your reaction to criticism versus your reaction to love and compassion? What then should we expect the reaction of others to be when we criticize versus demonstrating love? Was it love or criticism that encouraged you to accept Christ into your heart?
3)Why is compassion for each other so important? Is there something special about being committed to loving the people around you? 1 Cor 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
4)How is it that this principle can be the foundation and summation of all other laws/commandments? Ask yourself, “Do I treat it as such?” How can we focus on compassion being the primary aspect of our individual ministries?
5)Where we lack love there is fear. But that fear – irrespective of what it regards – is not God-sent. 2 Timothy 1:7.
While the tooth-for-a-tooth mentality yields anxiety, operating in love yields liberty and peace with God. Consider growing this week through love and compassion. Just as we cannot fully repay Christ for his sacrifice, look to share love and compassion with someone who cannot fully repay you.
Kristy Joi Downing
www.kjdowninglaw.com
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Part II Stressed on the Job? Don't Give Up!
Have you ever been overlooked for a promotion on the job? Have you ever had a boss that’s jealous of your accomplishments, gifts, and talents? What about a boss that’s out to destroy you, or better yet—kill you? Well, that’s just a bit of the stress that David had to handle doing his job. David handled all of these pressures of difficult job situations and overcame them.
While Saul was still on the throne, Samuel privately anointed a very young David to be king. Although David knew that the Lord had chosen him to be king, he had many tasks that could be considered “beneath” what a king would perform. For example, David, a shepherd known for being “a cunning player on a harp” was beckoned by King Saul to play for him, a job most would not choose if they had already been anointed king. David played under the anointing and “Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (I Sam. 16:23). By being obedient and humble, David was blessed.
When Goliath challenged Israel, David stepped up courageously to fight the giant. His boss, Saul, was “greatly afraid” of the giant, yet that did not stop David (I Sam. 17:11). Saul didn’t even have confidence that David could do the job. Saul told him, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth” (I Sam. 17:33). David did not let Saul’s negativity sway him from the task. In fact, when Saul “girded his sword upon his armour,” David took them off. David knew that he had to use the tools God had equipped him to use to get the job done. You know the story, with five smooth stones and a sling, David killed Goliath, leaving no doubt, as David says, that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Sam. 17:47).
When faced with Goliath, others saw a giant, but David’s perspective was different. He saw a mortal man defying God. He looked at his position from God’s point of view and could fight more effectively.
There is so much more that David faced as Saul’s admiration of him turned to jealousy. Saul hunted David down, trying desperately to murder him out of his rage and hatred of him. While Saul’s position had made him proud and arrogant, David’s humility remained apparent, even as a whole nation praised him.
Whether you’re working on a job or in the ministry, it’s important not to let jealousy enter your heart. Jealousy destroys a person on the inside and then spreads like a virus, wanting to kill everything in its path. David didn’t hold malice in his heart toward Saul. He had to wait and go through the process before he could be king. (Although he made many mistakes along the way, he was a man after God’s heart because he quickly confessed and repented of his sins.) Moreover, when he had the opportunity to kill Saul and was being coaxed into doing it, he didn’t compromise his standards to go along with the group. He refused to kill Saul (several times), his family, or descendents.
Most of us would never imagine doing the things that Saul did to someone on the job or in the ministry, but we do have to be careful about not being jealous when others are elevated and we are not. Even if you feel that you are more qualified, deserving or gifted, harboring jealousy towards anyone else is most dangerous for you. Spreading gossip or talking unfavorably about anyone else is wrong. Period.
One way that I’m sure to eliminate potential stress is to watch what I say and avoid negative conversation about anybody or anything. Tension and stress on the job or at church can’t be eased by negative talk or “venting” as we like to say. I don’t know how many times I’ve said I was just venting and there was no positive end. (However, I do think if you can talk to someone in confidence and pray, that can be productive.) We have to pray about difficult people and love them. Instead of being led by our emotions, we have to use the tools that God has given us in His Word and through prayer to defeat the enemy so that we can live the victorious lives that God has for each of us.
While Saul was still on the throne, Samuel privately anointed a very young David to be king. Although David knew that the Lord had chosen him to be king, he had many tasks that could be considered “beneath” what a king would perform. For example, David, a shepherd known for being “a cunning player on a harp” was beckoned by King Saul to play for him, a job most would not choose if they had already been anointed king. David played under the anointing and “Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (I Sam. 16:23). By being obedient and humble, David was blessed.
When Goliath challenged Israel, David stepped up courageously to fight the giant. His boss, Saul, was “greatly afraid” of the giant, yet that did not stop David (I Sam. 17:11). Saul didn’t even have confidence that David could do the job. Saul told him, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth” (I Sam. 17:33). David did not let Saul’s negativity sway him from the task. In fact, when Saul “girded his sword upon his armour,” David took them off. David knew that he had to use the tools God had equipped him to use to get the job done. You know the story, with five smooth stones and a sling, David killed Goliath, leaving no doubt, as David says, that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Sam. 17:47).
When faced with Goliath, others saw a giant, but David’s perspective was different. He saw a mortal man defying God. He looked at his position from God’s point of view and could fight more effectively.
There is so much more that David faced as Saul’s admiration of him turned to jealousy. Saul hunted David down, trying desperately to murder him out of his rage and hatred of him. While Saul’s position had made him proud and arrogant, David’s humility remained apparent, even as a whole nation praised him.
Whether you’re working on a job or in the ministry, it’s important not to let jealousy enter your heart. Jealousy destroys a person on the inside and then spreads like a virus, wanting to kill everything in its path. David didn’t hold malice in his heart toward Saul. He had to wait and go through the process before he could be king. (Although he made many mistakes along the way, he was a man after God’s heart because he quickly confessed and repented of his sins.) Moreover, when he had the opportunity to kill Saul and was being coaxed into doing it, he didn’t compromise his standards to go along with the group. He refused to kill Saul (several times), his family, or descendents.
Most of us would never imagine doing the things that Saul did to someone on the job or in the ministry, but we do have to be careful about not being jealous when others are elevated and we are not. Even if you feel that you are more qualified, deserving or gifted, harboring jealousy towards anyone else is most dangerous for you. Spreading gossip or talking unfavorably about anyone else is wrong. Period.
One way that I’m sure to eliminate potential stress is to watch what I say and avoid negative conversation about anybody or anything. Tension and stress on the job or at church can’t be eased by negative talk or “venting” as we like to say. I don’t know how many times I’ve said I was just venting and there was no positive end. (However, I do think if you can talk to someone in confidence and pray, that can be productive.) We have to pray about difficult people and love them. Instead of being led by our emotions, we have to use the tools that God has given us in His Word and through prayer to defeat the enemy so that we can live the victorious lives that God has for each of us.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Stressed on the Job? Don't Give Up!
Most of us don’t have to watch the news to know that many people who have jobs are stressed. With businesses closing and numbers of layoffs, the climate in many workplaces seems to be unstable at best. Employers appear to not only be scrutinizing their budgets, but also their employees, making sure they cut down expenses wherever they can. As a result, so many people are fearful of losing their jobs.
While most of us know that “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7), it can be difficult when we are tested on our jobs. When our livelihood is at stake, we can panic and become stressed and fearful, missing out on what valuable lessons and growth that the Lord has for us—even during a season of instability on our jobs.
We know there are many scriptures about fear and worry, but does the Bible speak specifically to people who are experiencing stress on their jobs? I’ve discovered that there are so many in the Bible who overcame the stress and fear on their jobs with victory. However, when we take a snapshot into the lives of Nehemiah and David, we see two men of God who can really teach all of how to handle difficulty of our jobs. (This week I’ll discuss Nehemiah and next week, David.)
Nehemiah is one of my favorite people in the Bible because he saw a problem, prayed and took action. He was a relatively common man with great influence and integrity. When he finds out that Jerusalem’s walls and gates, which represented power, protection and beauty, are broken and burned down, Nehemiah is devastated. After his initial tears, he fasts and prays for God’s direction, confessing and repenting for Israel’s sins. His prayer helped to clarify the problem and what Nehemiah was to do to help to resolve it. When we pray, God will also put those difficult decisions into perspective.
Nehemiah then took on the task of organizing and managing the walls being rebuilt, one that seemed impossible. Along the way, he was met with great opposition, threats, and ridicule from those trying to discourage him and his people from the task that God had given him to do. Nevertheless, Nehemiah employed a strategy, one that each of us can model, to frustrate the enemy through prayer, preparation, and hard work.
Nehemiah 4:10-14 is a powerful reminder that accomplishing any task can be tiring. We all get tired, but we have to stay focused on what God’s purpose is for us—even in work situations. Col. 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Nehemiah was an excellent supervisor, reminding the workers of their calling, goal, and God’s purpose in what they were doing.
Before the completion of the wall, a priest even came to give Nehemiah a false warning from God, telling him to hide in the Temple. He tested the message and found that it was a trick from the enemy and refused to be fearful. He courageously kept the project going until it was complete by being a tremendous example of faithfulness to God, the mission, and the people.
One final note: Nehemiah wasn’t a religious leader. He was a layman who God used in a significant way to carry out His will. While you may not feel appreciated or valued on your job, remember that it’s about doing your best job for God. He’s the ultimate overseer and rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Strive to be like Nehemiah, a common man with uncommon integrity, faithfulness, and dedication to God and to get the job done!
How about you? Stressed on the job? Drop me a line. . .
While most of us know that “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7), it can be difficult when we are tested on our jobs. When our livelihood is at stake, we can panic and become stressed and fearful, missing out on what valuable lessons and growth that the Lord has for us—even during a season of instability on our jobs.
We know there are many scriptures about fear and worry, but does the Bible speak specifically to people who are experiencing stress on their jobs? I’ve discovered that there are so many in the Bible who overcame the stress and fear on their jobs with victory. However, when we take a snapshot into the lives of Nehemiah and David, we see two men of God who can really teach all of how to handle difficulty of our jobs. (This week I’ll discuss Nehemiah and next week, David.)
Nehemiah is one of my favorite people in the Bible because he saw a problem, prayed and took action. He was a relatively common man with great influence and integrity. When he finds out that Jerusalem’s walls and gates, which represented power, protection and beauty, are broken and burned down, Nehemiah is devastated. After his initial tears, he fasts and prays for God’s direction, confessing and repenting for Israel’s sins. His prayer helped to clarify the problem and what Nehemiah was to do to help to resolve it. When we pray, God will also put those difficult decisions into perspective.
Nehemiah then took on the task of organizing and managing the walls being rebuilt, one that seemed impossible. Along the way, he was met with great opposition, threats, and ridicule from those trying to discourage him and his people from the task that God had given him to do. Nevertheless, Nehemiah employed a strategy, one that each of us can model, to frustrate the enemy through prayer, preparation, and hard work.
Nehemiah 4:10-14 is a powerful reminder that accomplishing any task can be tiring. We all get tired, but we have to stay focused on what God’s purpose is for us—even in work situations. Col. 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Nehemiah was an excellent supervisor, reminding the workers of their calling, goal, and God’s purpose in what they were doing.
Before the completion of the wall, a priest even came to give Nehemiah a false warning from God, telling him to hide in the Temple. He tested the message and found that it was a trick from the enemy and refused to be fearful. He courageously kept the project going until it was complete by being a tremendous example of faithfulness to God, the mission, and the people.
One final note: Nehemiah wasn’t a religious leader. He was a layman who God used in a significant way to carry out His will. While you may not feel appreciated or valued on your job, remember that it’s about doing your best job for God. He’s the ultimate overseer and rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Strive to be like Nehemiah, a common man with uncommon integrity, faithfulness, and dedication to God and to get the job done!
How about you? Stressed on the job? Drop me a line. . .
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Discouraged? Don't Give Up!
Lately, I’ve experienced a series of setbacks, one right after another, including a computer virus that didn’t want to let go. (I’m very thankful to the Lord for blessing me with a brainy husband that is skilled in these types of things.) I’m also so thankful to be able to get back on my computer to the Abiding in the Vine group and continue on the topic “Don’t Give Up!” Anyway, I would love to tell you that as a result of these setbacks, I immediately ran to the Word, fell on my knees in prayer, and received a breakthrough. However, I have to admit that I have had to fight to keep discouragement from getting the best of me.
Discouragement is a crafty and deceptive emotion. When we find ourselves in an unfavorable or downright bad situation, we may initially feel sad or upset about the circumstance. Then, we can often feel sorry for ourselves and have self-pity. Your mind immediately starts churning. Why me? I don’t deserve this. I didn’t do anything to anybody. Nothing ever works out for me. You get the picture. Before we know it, we are plunged into an abyss of doubt, depression, and despair. We become too paralyzed in our discouragement to be the productive, fruit-bearing believers that God has called us to be in the body of Christ.
What I have to share is absolutely nothing new, but just a reminder. When we allow discouragement to set in, we are lacking faith in God. We have made the decision not to trust the Lord, and many times without even being aware of it. The deceptive quality to discouragement is that we think that our future or situation is in the hands of ourselves, others, or fate. As believers, we serve and worship an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God.
I often think of King Hezekiah and how he was the only faithful king in Judah during over a 100 year history. He became very ill, and the prophet Isaiah told him that he was going to die. Hezekiah’s immediate response was to pray. He had lived a faithful, disciplined life in the Lord, so his natural reaction to the dreadful news was to turn to God in prayer. Hezekiah wept as he told the Lord, “remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight” (2 Kings 20:3).
I’m always struck by the short and simple prayer to God. God not only healed Hezekiah immediately, but also added fifteen years to his life. Hezekiah hadn’t asked, but God also saved his city from the Assyrians. These verses in the 20th chapter of 2 Kings remind me that faith and prayer will move God. He can change any situation, no matter how dismal and dark it may seem.
I Timothy 6:12 reminds us to “Fight the good fight on faith.” To fight the good fight, we must always wear our armor of God. What is the armor of God? In Ephesians 6:11-17, the armor is spelled out for us. The short version is that we need to have the truth and righteousness of God, the preparation of the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.
When I’ve really felt discouraged, I know that I have taken my focus off of God and on my problem. I haven’t put on all of my armor.
It’s interesting how we’ll take time to prepare ourselves to take tests at school, work, or for a license or degree, but many times when it comes to spirituality, which is the glue that holds our very lives together, giving us meaning and purpose, we don’t prepare ourselves for the tests that will surely come. Preparing ourselves for the tests and trials that life brings will undoubtedly insure that we don’t ever give up.
Have you allowed discouragement to creep in? Have you checked your armor lately? Drop me a line. . .
Discouragement is a crafty and deceptive emotion. When we find ourselves in an unfavorable or downright bad situation, we may initially feel sad or upset about the circumstance. Then, we can often feel sorry for ourselves and have self-pity. Your mind immediately starts churning. Why me? I don’t deserve this. I didn’t do anything to anybody. Nothing ever works out for me. You get the picture. Before we know it, we are plunged into an abyss of doubt, depression, and despair. We become too paralyzed in our discouragement to be the productive, fruit-bearing believers that God has called us to be in the body of Christ.
What I have to share is absolutely nothing new, but just a reminder. When we allow discouragement to set in, we are lacking faith in God. We have made the decision not to trust the Lord, and many times without even being aware of it. The deceptive quality to discouragement is that we think that our future or situation is in the hands of ourselves, others, or fate. As believers, we serve and worship an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God.
I often think of King Hezekiah and how he was the only faithful king in Judah during over a 100 year history. He became very ill, and the prophet Isaiah told him that he was going to die. Hezekiah’s immediate response was to pray. He had lived a faithful, disciplined life in the Lord, so his natural reaction to the dreadful news was to turn to God in prayer. Hezekiah wept as he told the Lord, “remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight” (2 Kings 20:3).
I’m always struck by the short and simple prayer to God. God not only healed Hezekiah immediately, but also added fifteen years to his life. Hezekiah hadn’t asked, but God also saved his city from the Assyrians. These verses in the 20th chapter of 2 Kings remind me that faith and prayer will move God. He can change any situation, no matter how dismal and dark it may seem.
I Timothy 6:12 reminds us to “Fight the good fight on faith.” To fight the good fight, we must always wear our armor of God. What is the armor of God? In Ephesians 6:11-17, the armor is spelled out for us. The short version is that we need to have the truth and righteousness of God, the preparation of the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.
When I’ve really felt discouraged, I know that I have taken my focus off of God and on my problem. I haven’t put on all of my armor.
It’s interesting how we’ll take time to prepare ourselves to take tests at school, work, or for a license or degree, but many times when it comes to spirituality, which is the glue that holds our very lives together, giving us meaning and purpose, we don’t prepare ourselves for the tests that will surely come. Preparing ourselves for the tests and trials that life brings will undoubtedly insure that we don’t ever give up.
Have you allowed discouragement to creep in? Have you checked your armor lately? Drop me a line. . .
Monday, June 15, 2009
Isaiah 40:31 Inspirational Blog Tour
Be sure to stop by www.allthebuzzreviews.com to experience The Isaiah 40:31 Inspirational Blog Tour with a host of Christian fiction authors. You don't want to miss it everyday this week!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Get Your Head in the Game!
My two sons, who play on the same soccer team, haven’t won one soccer game all season. It’s agony to watch because they have tried so hard to win. Anxiously calling from the sidelines, I shouted at the last game, “It’s okay! Don’t give up! You can do it! Shake it off!” Then, finally, I yell out in frustration, “Get your head in the game!” Okay, so you get the picture.
With sweat rolling down their flushed faces, neither one of the boys made eye contact with me as we left the field. I tried to comfort them, but then came a fury of anger about the unfairness of the situation. After allowing them to vent for a few minutes, I asked them what they could do differently next time to help the team. They seemed to be at a total loss. I then carefully explained to them what I thought each of them could do to help their team to win. They got quiet, and I knew that they were thinking and calculating what each of them could do differently.
There are much bigger battles than a soccer game though. Some of us have health battles, marital issues, financial struggles, job losses, and a host of other situations that make us want to throw in the towel. However, we must never give up.
I Cornithians 9:24 says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We must stay in the race and run to win. As Paul says, we are incorruptible, which means that we will not perish. The “race” we are in though in one where we must keep our faith in Christ in spite of the trials and tribulations that come our way.
Paul says to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:78). So, why are we running in the race? Our purpose must be clear. We are running the race to win, to endure until our course is finished. Again, our goal is to keep the faith and received the crown of righteousness.
Regardless of what our struggle or battle is in the natural sense, we must stay focused on the spiritual goal at all times. It will help us to prioritize and keep things in perspective. The natural battle may be huge, but we can overcome. Those that are anchored in Christ are victors. As the Word says, the battle is the Lord’s, and we’ve already won through Him. If we keep the faith, we will receive an eternal heavenly reward.
On our journey, each of us has to deny ourselves of whatever may harm us and discipline ourselves. It’s interesting because the Christian journey really is a life of freedom and discipline. To stay disciplined, we must pray, study the Word, and worship. Our spiritual progress is reliant on these things. We can’t win standing still. Pressing towards the mark calls on us to train and be diligent, doing all we know to do that is right and holy.
I have really been pressed in my spirit about the message of not giving up. It’s a battle that I find myself in so often, and when I look around, I see it all around. People give up when they are stuck in the situation they are in and feel hopeless. Our perspective has to be bigger than the immediate problem or problems. We must have a spiritual eye to sharpen our focus on the bigger picture. We have to remind one another and ourselves that enduring until the end is not an option. We are called to endure, and we will win. We can face trials much more easily when we have the attitude of being a conqueror through Christ.
I’d like to continue the next several devotions on not giving up. There are so many powerful scriptures that speak to this, and I know that when we abide in the true vine, we don’t ever give up.
When the opposing team scored the first goal at my sons’ last game, I heard my son grumble, “Well, we’re gonna lose again.” I already told you what the outcome was. Keeping our head in the game, no matter what the score, is of the utmost importance because we are guaranteed to win.
When did you feel like giving up? How did you overcome those feelings? Do you have a scripture that you have hidden in your heart that helps you overcome feelings of hopelessness? Drop me a line because I’d love to hear from you.
Follow the blog at www.maritateague.blogspot.com
With sweat rolling down their flushed faces, neither one of the boys made eye contact with me as we left the field. I tried to comfort them, but then came a fury of anger about the unfairness of the situation. After allowing them to vent for a few minutes, I asked them what they could do differently next time to help the team. They seemed to be at a total loss. I then carefully explained to them what I thought each of them could do to help their team to win. They got quiet, and I knew that they were thinking and calculating what each of them could do differently.
There are much bigger battles than a soccer game though. Some of us have health battles, marital issues, financial struggles, job losses, and a host of other situations that make us want to throw in the towel. However, we must never give up.
I Cornithians 9:24 says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We must stay in the race and run to win. As Paul says, we are incorruptible, which means that we will not perish. The “race” we are in though in one where we must keep our faith in Christ in spite of the trials and tribulations that come our way.
Paul says to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:78). So, why are we running in the race? Our purpose must be clear. We are running the race to win, to endure until our course is finished. Again, our goal is to keep the faith and received the crown of righteousness.
Regardless of what our struggle or battle is in the natural sense, we must stay focused on the spiritual goal at all times. It will help us to prioritize and keep things in perspective. The natural battle may be huge, but we can overcome. Those that are anchored in Christ are victors. As the Word says, the battle is the Lord’s, and we’ve already won through Him. If we keep the faith, we will receive an eternal heavenly reward.
On our journey, each of us has to deny ourselves of whatever may harm us and discipline ourselves. It’s interesting because the Christian journey really is a life of freedom and discipline. To stay disciplined, we must pray, study the Word, and worship. Our spiritual progress is reliant on these things. We can’t win standing still. Pressing towards the mark calls on us to train and be diligent, doing all we know to do that is right and holy.
I have really been pressed in my spirit about the message of not giving up. It’s a battle that I find myself in so often, and when I look around, I see it all around. People give up when they are stuck in the situation they are in and feel hopeless. Our perspective has to be bigger than the immediate problem or problems. We must have a spiritual eye to sharpen our focus on the bigger picture. We have to remind one another and ourselves that enduring until the end is not an option. We are called to endure, and we will win. We can face trials much more easily when we have the attitude of being a conqueror through Christ.
I’d like to continue the next several devotions on not giving up. There are so many powerful scriptures that speak to this, and I know that when we abide in the true vine, we don’t ever give up.
When the opposing team scored the first goal at my sons’ last game, I heard my son grumble, “Well, we’re gonna lose again.” I already told you what the outcome was. Keeping our head in the game, no matter what the score, is of the utmost importance because we are guaranteed to win.
When did you feel like giving up? How did you overcome those feelings? Do you have a scripture that you have hidden in your heart that helps you overcome feelings of hopelessness? Drop me a line because I’d love to hear from you.
Follow the blog at www.maritateague.blogspot.com
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