Self-Respect Missing? Check Your Lifestyle - Part 2

Endurance is a powerful force designed by God to sustain life and help us stay focused on the purpose God sets before us to accept and carry out. Endurance serves as a pathway for discovering contentment and satisfaction with what we have rather than longing for what lies just ahead or behind us. Endurance equates to faithfulness.

In John 15:12-14 Jesus commands believers to “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” Considering the degree of endurance required for this task, it is difficult but not impossible.

It is challenging to rearrange a lifestyle that currently does not fit. Thinking and feeling patterns are slow to conform. However, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to help us make transitions and build endurance. It doesn’t happen overnight, but for all who determine to endure, God is faithful to provide help and encouragement.

Self-Respect: the Means for Self-Love - Part 1

Values determine your lifestyle and what you treasure. Parents work and save to give their family an inheritance they hope will be appreciated. In truth, the greatest treasures you pass on to your children are strong godly values – not an easy task because each person falls short of demonstrating perfection.

Children easily identify and even replicate their parents’ weaknesses and mistakes. However, as parents determine to clean up and change their lives, their children will observe and respect their efforts. Children long for parents to give them hope and assurance that change is possible. They want and need to emulate honorable and trustworthy values.  

          Be open and honest about your struggles. Along with honesty, it’s critically important to demonstrate endurance, the staying power that sees a task through to completion. Honesty’s ultimate goal hopes for closeness, love and respect, for this is the pathway to self-respect and a healthy self-love. It’s God’s way and that must be good.  

Endure: Don't Give In or Give Up - Part 1

Recently, I met a person who was experiencing intense conflict over office procedures and policies. What appeared to be a secondary issue, but turned out to be the primary issue, was this person’s fear of conflict and confrontation. He preferred to pout and internalize frustration rather than to be "up front" with the issues.

There are several ways to manage conflict. One is to endure in silence and become a helpless victim. A healthier way to manage is to be open and truthful, carefully explaining what you think and need. Then request the person's help and support for resolving problems. Change usually requires patience and endurance for appropriate change to become a reality.

Endurance displays character strengths. Endurance makes emotional and spiritual transformation possible. Character strengths come from believing the Lord God will use any situation to let you know he is interested in you and will give you strength to endure. You can love and trust him to faithfully keep his promises.