Monday, December 23, 2013

Pastor's Ponderings: December 23, 2013

Persistence!
Of the many important attitudes that help determine success in life, a book I recently read on success "The Best of Success" emphasized the attitude of persistence. Perhaps because it is not as inspiring as ambition, creativity, or risk-taking, persistence is often lacking in many of us. Many of us will try something out and when we don’t have short term success, we may give up and rationalize, “this just wasn’t a good fit” or “this really did not meet my needs.” We live in a society where persistence is not often rewarded and the “what pleases me for the moment” mantra is encouraged.
Claude M. Bristol wrote, “It’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles” (The Best of Success, 1984). In the Bible, Paul displayed this attitude of enduring and holding on in spite of adversity. He persisted throughout imprisonment, beatings, and stoning. He suffered having no sleep, being hungry, thirsty, cold, and naked (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Yet, he forgot all those problems that were behind him and he pressed onward toward God’s goal and purpose for his life.
Although you may feel overwhelmed in your current situation and ready to quit, please be encouraged to press onward with God today. Give him your obstacles, pain, and disappointments and let us persist in obeying God’s word and walking successfully towards the goals He has for us. 
Please comment below and share how you have persisted in spite of obstacles so that others may be blessed by your testimony. 

Philippians 3:13, 14 New International Version (NIV)
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

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