March 13, 2007
His Plan Is To Love You
By Melanie Chitwood
Ephesians 3:17, “Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (NLT)
Devotion:
I find it just absolutely amazing that Jesus came to earth for one reason only—He loves you. When He took off His crown in heaven, He was thinking of you with love. When He left His home in Heaven, He was thinking of you with love. When He journeyed to earth, He was thinking of you with love. When He looked ahead to how His years on earth would end, He was thinking of you. He loves you.
There is only one place here on earth where Jesus can find a home - in your heart. If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, I pray that today will be the day that you pray to Him, confess your sin, and accept His forgiveness and love. I hope that for you, this will be the first day you celebrate Jesus as your Savior, Friend, and Lord.
You may have already asked Jesus into your heart, but you’ve wandered away and you’re not so sure He can still find a home with you. Maybe you’ve just grown lukewarm in your love for Christ. Or maybe you’ve strayed way off the path.
I want to assure you today that there is no where you can go where He cannot find you and rescue you with His love. There is nothing you can ever do to make Him stop loving you. From the very first moment, He thought of You, His plan was to love you, and that will always be His plan.
He is only a prayer away. Will you pray today to receive Christ into your heart as your Savior and Lord? Will you pray today a prayer confessing your sin and know that He welcomes you back the minute you turn to Him?
Dear Lord, help me know and to believe that Your plan for me is to love me unconditionally and be my Lord and Savior, now and always. Thank you for the sacrifice of Your death. Thank you for the power of Your resurrection. Hold me close in Your loving arms. Make my desire for You and Your ways stronger than any other desire in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood
Who Holds the Key to Your Heart by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
If you prayed today to receive Christ as Your Lord and Savior, or have recommitted to following Him, let someone know right now! Let Proverbs 31 Ministries know by clicking Do You Know Him? or tell a friend.
Begin today to spend daily time with Jesus. Read the Bible every day. You can start with the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32.
Reflections:
Are you part of a church family? God does not want us to live as Christians on our own. Attend a Bible-believing church this week. Commit to joining a church and becoming involved. No more excuses!
Power Verses:
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.’” (NAS)
Ephesians 3:17-19, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (NIV)
1 John 3:1, “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.” (MSG)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Obeying the Spirit of God
Obeying the Spirit of God
by Os Hillman, March 13, 2007
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." - Acts 8:26Philip was conducting what we might today call a revival meeting. God was blessing the meeting, and many were being healed and delivered from demonic influence. Here is the scene:Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:5-8).And yet, in the midst of this great event, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to remove himself and go to a completely different area to speak to one individual. Philip was so sensitive to the directive of the Holy Spirit that he left what would be deemed a successful event to go speak to another - an Ethiopian eunuch. The result of his obedience was that Philip led the eunuch to faith in Christ and baptized him.
The Lord then took Philip away supernaturally to another region many miles away.God's ways of determining where we invest our time and energy often have little to do with results. The danger for each of us is to determine that we are in the center of God's will simply by the success or failure of the events we are involved in. Our plumb line for determining success can be only one thing: obedience. Philip responded in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.Are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Has God prompted you to speak, go, or come alongside another?
Ask God today to help you hear the Holy Spirit's voice so that you might be used mightily in your workplace.
by Os Hillman, March 13, 2007
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." - Acts 8:26Philip was conducting what we might today call a revival meeting. God was blessing the meeting, and many were being healed and delivered from demonic influence. Here is the scene:Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:5-8).And yet, in the midst of this great event, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to remove himself and go to a completely different area to speak to one individual. Philip was so sensitive to the directive of the Holy Spirit that he left what would be deemed a successful event to go speak to another - an Ethiopian eunuch. The result of his obedience was that Philip led the eunuch to faith in Christ and baptized him.
The Lord then took Philip away supernaturally to another region many miles away.God's ways of determining where we invest our time and energy often have little to do with results. The danger for each of us is to determine that we are in the center of God's will simply by the success or failure of the events we are involved in. Our plumb line for determining success can be only one thing: obedience. Philip responded in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.Are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Has God prompted you to speak, go, or come alongside another?
Ask God today to help you hear the Holy Spirit's voice so that you might be used mightily in your workplace.
Determination 5 of 5
DETERMINATION
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…â€
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Son, go and work in the vineyard today. Matthew 21:28
A psychologist asked three thousand persons: “What have you to live for?†She was shocked to find that 94 percent were simply enduring the present while they waited for the future. All were waiting for “something†to happen, waiting for children to grow up and leave home, waiting for next year, waiting for a vacation or trip, all waiting for tomorrow without realizing that all anyone ever has is today. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.
A vital connection with God and others is not found in a waiting room. Rather, time in an exercise gym more closely symbolizes the productive activity that results in a healthy, full and meaningful Christian life. Drawing close to God and others resulting in a dynamic life is accomplished by doing, not waiting. We use to wait, to dream, to wish, and to resolve to do better “tomorrow.†Breakthrough living is for today’s action, not tomorrow’s wishful thinking. A man living intimately with God is not one who waits or one who draws back but one who follows. Today is our arena, and action is our call.
The habits of breakthrough living are calls to action. Each is a repetitive goal. Each is done by a determined doing, not by waiting or hoping. Each habit draws us closer to the Almighty, not in any way an activity to try and win his favor. He already loves us more than we can imagine. As we exercise these habits, they serve as signs or indicators that we are moving in the right direction, closer to the heart of God. Not every habit can be exercised today, but there is always at least one that is there to be our daily guide. Today, it is my duty and privilege to exercise godly habits, regardless of the opposition.
Jesus, you gave me this day. Don’t let me wait, but plunge me into the present.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…â€
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Son, go and work in the vineyard today. Matthew 21:28
A psychologist asked three thousand persons: “What have you to live for?†She was shocked to find that 94 percent were simply enduring the present while they waited for the future. All were waiting for “something†to happen, waiting for children to grow up and leave home, waiting for next year, waiting for a vacation or trip, all waiting for tomorrow without realizing that all anyone ever has is today. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.
A vital connection with God and others is not found in a waiting room. Rather, time in an exercise gym more closely symbolizes the productive activity that results in a healthy, full and meaningful Christian life. Drawing close to God and others resulting in a dynamic life is accomplished by doing, not waiting. We use to wait, to dream, to wish, and to resolve to do better “tomorrow.†Breakthrough living is for today’s action, not tomorrow’s wishful thinking. A man living intimately with God is not one who waits or one who draws back but one who follows. Today is our arena, and action is our call.
The habits of breakthrough living are calls to action. Each is a repetitive goal. Each is done by a determined doing, not by waiting or hoping. Each habit draws us closer to the Almighty, not in any way an activity to try and win his favor. He already loves us more than we can imagine. As we exercise these habits, they serve as signs or indicators that we are moving in the right direction, closer to the heart of God. Not every habit can be exercised today, but there is always at least one that is there to be our daily guide. Today, it is my duty and privilege to exercise godly habits, regardless of the opposition.
Jesus, you gave me this day. Don’t let me wait, but plunge me into the present.
Determination Part 4
DETERMINATION
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
How many people stop because so few say “Go”! How few are those who see beyond the danger … who say to those on the edge of some venture, “Go for it!” Perhaps it is related to one’s inner ability to imagine, to envision, to be enraptured by the unseen, all hazards and hardships notwithstanding. I’m convinced that one of the reasons mountain climbers connect themselves to one another with a rope is to keep the one on the end from going home. Guys out front never consider that as an option … but those in the rear, well, let’s just say they are the last to get a glimpse of the glory.
Certain visionaries refused to listen to the short-sighted doomsayers who could only see as far as the first obstacle. For example,
Edison didn’t give up on the light bulb even though his helpers seriously doubted the thing would work.
Luther refused to back down when the Church doubled her fist and clenched her teeth.
Michelangelo kept pounding and painting, regardless of those negative put-downs.
Jesus held nothing back when He left heaven, lived on earth, and went for it all the way to the cross and beyond.
Almost every day we encounter someone like Abraham who is standing with their tent pegs in hand seriously thinking about embarking on the most daring, most frightening journey of their lifetime. That may be a friend, your marriage partner, someone you work with, a neighbor, your own child or brother, sister, or parent. Urge them on! Vote “Yes”! Shout a rousing “You are really something … I’m proud of you!” Dare to say what they need to hear the most, “Go for it!” Then pray like mad.
Our problem is not lack of potential, it is lack of determination … not a problem of having the goods but of hearing the bads. How much more could be accomplished if there were only more urging us on, affirming us, regardless of the risks? Too many stop because so few say “Go!”
Father, do a new work in me today. Lift my sights above the expected. Develop in me the qualities that make for excellence. Grant me a sensitive heart and a ready word of encouragement to say “Go!” to someone daring to step out on faith.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
How many people stop because so few say “Go”! How few are those who see beyond the danger … who say to those on the edge of some venture, “Go for it!” Perhaps it is related to one’s inner ability to imagine, to envision, to be enraptured by the unseen, all hazards and hardships notwithstanding. I’m convinced that one of the reasons mountain climbers connect themselves to one another with a rope is to keep the one on the end from going home. Guys out front never consider that as an option … but those in the rear, well, let’s just say they are the last to get a glimpse of the glory.
Certain visionaries refused to listen to the short-sighted doomsayers who could only see as far as the first obstacle. For example,
Edison didn’t give up on the light bulb even though his helpers seriously doubted the thing would work.
Luther refused to back down when the Church doubled her fist and clenched her teeth.
Michelangelo kept pounding and painting, regardless of those negative put-downs.
Jesus held nothing back when He left heaven, lived on earth, and went for it all the way to the cross and beyond.
Almost every day we encounter someone like Abraham who is standing with their tent pegs in hand seriously thinking about embarking on the most daring, most frightening journey of their lifetime. That may be a friend, your marriage partner, someone you work with, a neighbor, your own child or brother, sister, or parent. Urge them on! Vote “Yes”! Shout a rousing “You are really something … I’m proud of you!” Dare to say what they need to hear the most, “Go for it!” Then pray like mad.
Our problem is not lack of potential, it is lack of determination … not a problem of having the goods but of hearing the bads. How much more could be accomplished if there were only more urging us on, affirming us, regardless of the risks? Too many stop because so few say “Go!”
Father, do a new work in me today. Lift my sights above the expected. Develop in me the qualities that make for excellence. Grant me a sensitive heart and a ready word of encouragement to say “Go!” to someone daring to step out on faith.
Determination Part 3
DETERMINATION
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. (Galatians 6:9 – The Message)
We don’t hear about gumption any more. Too bad, since we need it more than ever these days especially since quitting is now more popular than finishing. It enables us to save money rather than spend every dime we make. It keeps us at a hard task, like building a tedious model or completing an add-on or practicing guitar or losing weight – and keeping it lost. Gumption comes easier when we remember that finishing has its own unique rewards. Those who only start projects never know the surge of satisfaction that comes with slapping hands together, wiping away those beads of perspiration, and saying that beautiful four-letter word, “Done!” Keeping the end in mind encourages gumption, but how does it begin?
Gumption begins with a firm commitment. Isaiah “set his face like a flint” (50:7) and Daniel “made up his mind” (1:8). An old recipe for a rabbit dish starts out, “First, catch the rabbit.” That puts first things first. No rabbit, no dish. You want gumption to continue to the end? Start strong then live it out one day at a time.
The whole of any objective can overwhelm even the most determined and courageous. Writing a book? Do so one page at a time. Running a marathon? Those 26 plus miles are run one step at a time. Trying to master a new language? Try one word at a time. There are 365 days in the average year. Divide any project by 365 and none seem all that intimidating, do they? It will take daily discipline (Proverbs 19:27), not annual discipline.
Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities. With his enablement, live this day with gumption to the full – as if it were your last day on earth. It may be.
Father, stab me awake to possibilities to extend your love to others today, keep me wide-eyed and ready.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. (Galatians 6:9 – The Message)
We don’t hear about gumption any more. Too bad, since we need it more than ever these days especially since quitting is now more popular than finishing. It enables us to save money rather than spend every dime we make. It keeps us at a hard task, like building a tedious model or completing an add-on or practicing guitar or losing weight – and keeping it lost. Gumption comes easier when we remember that finishing has its own unique rewards. Those who only start projects never know the surge of satisfaction that comes with slapping hands together, wiping away those beads of perspiration, and saying that beautiful four-letter word, “Done!” Keeping the end in mind encourages gumption, but how does it begin?
Gumption begins with a firm commitment. Isaiah “set his face like a flint” (50:7) and Daniel “made up his mind” (1:8). An old recipe for a rabbit dish starts out, “First, catch the rabbit.” That puts first things first. No rabbit, no dish. You want gumption to continue to the end? Start strong then live it out one day at a time.
The whole of any objective can overwhelm even the most determined and courageous. Writing a book? Do so one page at a time. Running a marathon? Those 26 plus miles are run one step at a time. Trying to master a new language? Try one word at a time. There are 365 days in the average year. Divide any project by 365 and none seem all that intimidating, do they? It will take daily discipline (Proverbs 19:27), not annual discipline.
Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities. With his enablement, live this day with gumption to the full – as if it were your last day on earth. It may be.
Father, stab me awake to possibilities to extend your love to others today, keep me wide-eyed and ready.
Determination Part 2
DETERMINATION
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12
Rare indeed are those folk who doggedly give of themselves with little regard for recognition, personal benefit, or monetary returns. It takes a devoted determination to be a rebuilder, a repairer, and a restorer. The selfish and lazy rationalization “That’s good enough to get by” will not get broken lives rebuilt.
For some reason we are slowly eroding into a people that gauges every request for involvement from the viewpoint: “What do I get out of it?” or “How can I get the most for the least?” Tucked underneath that philosophy is a tremendous loss of dedication. As a result, our standard has become mediocrity and our goal, maintaining the average. The consecrated worker, the high achiever, the dedicated employee, the student who strives for excellence is often labeled a neurotic or shunned as a fanatic.
God’s word stresses the importance of personal determination. The Lord assures me that his glory is my goal (1 Cor. 10:31), not man’s approval. Furthermore, when he tells me to love, he tells me to do it fervently (1 Peter 4:8). When maintaining a friendship, it is to be devotedly (Romans 12:10). When steering clear of evil, I am told to stay away from even the appearance of it (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When seeing a person in need, I am to bear his or her burden sacrificially (Galatians 6:1-2), not stay at a safe distance. When it comes to work, I am to be disciplined (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8) and diligent (1 Thessalonians 2:9). The Scriptures abound with exhortations to go above and beyond the required call of duty – to a dedication of life that thrives on the challenge of persisting against opposition and doing a quality piece of work. Our daily motto can be to always do more than is required of us. Don’t be afraid of it. Such determination is not only rare, it’s downright contagious.
Lord, I am all yours – no conditions, no exceptions, no reservations.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12
Rare indeed are those folk who doggedly give of themselves with little regard for recognition, personal benefit, or monetary returns. It takes a devoted determination to be a rebuilder, a repairer, and a restorer. The selfish and lazy rationalization “That’s good enough to get by” will not get broken lives rebuilt.
For some reason we are slowly eroding into a people that gauges every request for involvement from the viewpoint: “What do I get out of it?” or “How can I get the most for the least?” Tucked underneath that philosophy is a tremendous loss of dedication. As a result, our standard has become mediocrity and our goal, maintaining the average. The consecrated worker, the high achiever, the dedicated employee, the student who strives for excellence is often labeled a neurotic or shunned as a fanatic.
God’s word stresses the importance of personal determination. The Lord assures me that his glory is my goal (1 Cor. 10:31), not man’s approval. Furthermore, when he tells me to love, he tells me to do it fervently (1 Peter 4:8). When maintaining a friendship, it is to be devotedly (Romans 12:10). When steering clear of evil, I am told to stay away from even the appearance of it (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When seeing a person in need, I am to bear his or her burden sacrificially (Galatians 6:1-2), not stay at a safe distance. When it comes to work, I am to be disciplined (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8) and diligent (1 Thessalonians 2:9). The Scriptures abound with exhortations to go above and beyond the required call of duty – to a dedication of life that thrives on the challenge of persisting against opposition and doing a quality piece of work. Our daily motto can be to always do more than is required of us. Don’t be afraid of it. Such determination is not only rare, it’s downright contagious.
Lord, I am all yours – no conditions, no exceptions, no reservations.
Determination 1 of 5
DETERMINATION
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
Determination gives us the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before us. After one to four years at sea, the king salmon determines to head home – back to the stream where it hatched. Swimming against the fierce river currents and leaping up waterfalls, the mighty salmon actually increases its daily speed as it covers the hundreds of miles home. No matter how daunting the task, to be determined is to see it through despite the obstacles and currents facing us!
Paul exhorts in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ”God calls us to determination– to never go backward. Attempt, and do it with all your might. Few things are more rewarding than the exhilaration of achievement after wholehearted effort. The stronger the current opposing us, the sweeter the victory will be.
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
A.J. Cronin is a fine novelist with an inspiring perspective. His novels portray ordinary men who attempt to live honest and true lives in a world filled with cruelty and deceit. The Keys of the Kingdom tells the story of Francis Chisholm, a Scottish orphan who becomes a missionary in China. His experiences there are those of the most ordinary man who has an extra-ordinary commitment to the principles of Christianity. He works most of his life against overwhelming odds and determinedly overcomes countless failures. One day he is talking to a farmer who is moaning over the loss of his garden to a recent flood. “My plantings are all lost; we shall have to begin all over again,” he cries. Chisholm replies, “But that’s life, my friend; to begin again when everything is lost.”
The life of the Christian is continually persisting against opposition. We are never finished. Our adversary attempts to dissuade or discourage us constantly. Through determination, we accomplish right goals in spite of opposition. If our plantings are washed away, we start over. New beginnings are inevitable. No one sees this pattern of grace any better than those of us who live in vital connection with others. We are close enough to know one another’s weaknesses, vulnerabilities and failure. Yet, despite our failings, losses and opposition, we begin again and again. It is the way of God.
Dear Lord, help me accept your cycle of loss and gain and through determination surrender myself in trust to your presence in all my new beginnings.
Vineyard Church NW - Jody Burgin
Determination gives us the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before us. After one to four years at sea, the king salmon determines to head home – back to the stream where it hatched. Swimming against the fierce river currents and leaping up waterfalls, the mighty salmon actually increases its daily speed as it covers the hundreds of miles home. No matter how daunting the task, to be determined is to see it through despite the obstacles and currents facing us!
Paul exhorts in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ”God calls us to determination– to never go backward. Attempt, and do it with all your might. Few things are more rewarding than the exhilaration of achievement after wholehearted effort. The stronger the current opposing us, the sweeter the victory will be.
DETERMINATION vs. Withdrawal
Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
“I will…”
Set goals reflecting my faith in God.
Make sure my goals are right.
Persist against opposition and ignore distractions.
Not be discouraged by other’s attempts to dissuade or discourage me.
Face problems head-on.
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
A.J. Cronin is a fine novelist with an inspiring perspective. His novels portray ordinary men who attempt to live honest and true lives in a world filled with cruelty and deceit. The Keys of the Kingdom tells the story of Francis Chisholm, a Scottish orphan who becomes a missionary in China. His experiences there are those of the most ordinary man who has an extra-ordinary commitment to the principles of Christianity. He works most of his life against overwhelming odds and determinedly overcomes countless failures. One day he is talking to a farmer who is moaning over the loss of his garden to a recent flood. “My plantings are all lost; we shall have to begin all over again,” he cries. Chisholm replies, “But that’s life, my friend; to begin again when everything is lost.”
The life of the Christian is continually persisting against opposition. We are never finished. Our adversary attempts to dissuade or discourage us constantly. Through determination, we accomplish right goals in spite of opposition. If our plantings are washed away, we start over. New beginnings are inevitable. No one sees this pattern of grace any better than those of us who live in vital connection with others. We are close enough to know one another’s weaknesses, vulnerabilities and failure. Yet, despite our failings, losses and opposition, we begin again and again. It is the way of God.
Dear Lord, help me accept your cycle of loss and gain and through determination surrender myself in trust to your presence in all my new beginnings.
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