Remain alive or persist in anything...I happen to admire the thought of "persisting in anything undertaken including maintaining a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement" (dictionary.com). Do I want to come out on the other side of my suffering just remaining alive, continuing to exist, or just living through something? Anyone can survive. Perseverance takes a little something extra.
Here are some scriptures from the New International Version Bible that point towards perseverance:
Hebrews 10: 36 " You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
I Corinthians 13: 6-7 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
II Thessalonians 3: 13 "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."
Romans 5: 3-5 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
James 1: 12-15 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Temptation to just give up my fight and stance is enormous. The easiest thing would be to just give up. Then what? Do I embrace the unchanged life? Do I embrace just surviving the ordeal without any type of catharsis? The hypocrisy of that is really beyond my comprehension. What choice do I have other than not only standing firm in all things but persevering with zeal? I will not give up. I will not give in, and I most certainly will not compromise my values and beliefs again.
What a battle within myself. I don't think that I ever really understood spiritual warfare until the battle became internal. I must say that it is much easier to battle an external factor that can easily be viewed as the enemy. In my case, the enemy is me. Will I be weak or strong? Will I press into Christ or give up?
Let's break apart the scriptures by first asking what is it that we are driving towards? For me, it is God's will for my life. I have submitted myself to His service and calling (whether that is as a writer, speaker, principal, mom, daughter, coordinator, teacher, coffee shop helper, house cleaner, or whatever else He sends my way). I have renounced evil (and will have to wake up every day and renounce it again).
I will not negotiate with sin in my home (I will have to make this decision every single day as well). I will do what is right without regard for what other people think. I will choose to tune into the Holy Spirit and His voice. I will not allow Satan's voice to be loudest in my life. I will have confidence through Christ. I will assume the authority as a follower of Christ should. I will not fall into temptation. I will not walk in defeat. I will own my choices. All of these are daily decisions and commitments. Perfection is unrealistic, but the commitment is there. I will accept grace and forgiveness any time I fail and will forgive myself. God knows my heart.
Please understand that perseverance is a journey and a struggle in His trenches. It is not an easy feat. I would go so far as to say that the battle is bloody and painful, or it feels that way to me. Time is the only tester of faith. Failing, doubting, struggling, and battling (even within ourselves) are all part of the journey. I pray that you have true friends of faith that can support you, pick you up, pray for you, kick you in the butt, and really be there for you as you persevere.
I am blessed with an amazing support group that only God could have put together as I go through the struggles of my current battle. I am sure that this battle is simply the training ground for the next battle and whatever He has called me to do with my life.
Stand Firm. Keep the Faith. Persevere. Surviving is for sissies. Perseverance is for royalty. (I can say this because I am struggling to not be a sissy...:)
Here are some scriptures from the New International Version Bible that point towards perseverance:
Hebrews 10: 36 " You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
I Corinthians 13: 6-7 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
II Thessalonians 3: 13 "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."
Romans 5: 3-5 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
James 1: 12-15 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Temptation to just give up my fight and stance is enormous. The easiest thing would be to just give up. Then what? Do I embrace the unchanged life? Do I embrace just surviving the ordeal without any type of catharsis? The hypocrisy of that is really beyond my comprehension. What choice do I have other than not only standing firm in all things but persevering with zeal? I will not give up. I will not give in, and I most certainly will not compromise my values and beliefs again.
What a battle within myself. I don't think that I ever really understood spiritual warfare until the battle became internal. I must say that it is much easier to battle an external factor that can easily be viewed as the enemy. In my case, the enemy is me. Will I be weak or strong? Will I press into Christ or give up?
Let's break apart the scriptures by first asking what is it that we are driving towards? For me, it is God's will for my life. I have submitted myself to His service and calling (whether that is as a writer, speaker, principal, mom, daughter, coordinator, teacher, coffee shop helper, house cleaner, or whatever else He sends my way). I have renounced evil (and will have to wake up every day and renounce it again).
I will not negotiate with sin in my home (I will have to make this decision every single day as well). I will do what is right without regard for what other people think. I will choose to tune into the Holy Spirit and His voice. I will not allow Satan's voice to be loudest in my life. I will have confidence through Christ. I will assume the authority as a follower of Christ should. I will not fall into temptation. I will not walk in defeat. I will own my choices. All of these are daily decisions and commitments. Perfection is unrealistic, but the commitment is there. I will accept grace and forgiveness any time I fail and will forgive myself. God knows my heart.
Please understand that perseverance is a journey and a struggle in His trenches. It is not an easy feat. I would go so far as to say that the battle is bloody and painful, or it feels that way to me. Time is the only tester of faith. Failing, doubting, struggling, and battling (even within ourselves) are all part of the journey. I pray that you have true friends of faith that can support you, pick you up, pray for you, kick you in the butt, and really be there for you as you persevere.
I am blessed with an amazing support group that only God could have put together as I go through the struggles of my current battle. I am sure that this battle is simply the training ground for the next battle and whatever He has called me to do with my life.
Stand Firm. Keep the Faith. Persevere. Surviving is for sissies. Perseverance is for royalty. (I can say this because I am struggling to not be a sissy...:)
Great! We are a culmination of life's experiences, yet those experiences do not define us....... We are in constant flux and ever changing........
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