Integrity Guards Self-Respect - Part 3

Endurance tells us to stand firm when we feel like retreating.  Endurance encourages us to remain mentally and emotionally tough when we feel weak and tired. Endurance gives determination to be spiritually committed, for then we can be assured that God’s purpose will prevail. Faith and trust enable us to withstand every evil deterrent Satan hurls at us.

As endurance stands firm, self-respect and self-esteem become more entrenched. A reality some believers find unacceptable concerns suffering and having difficult days. So many question the reason God permits struggles and strife to invade their lives, forgetting that Christ Jesus gave up his life for them.

It’s not that we should look for suffering because suffering pursues everyone. The apostle Paul encourages us to endure suffering with patience, for when God gives us a reprieve, we are blessed with confidence. Endurance builds tolerance by knowing joy comes in the morning after a dark night of suffering. For that joy we offer heartfelt thanks to God.  

Feeling Afraid? Remember Your Faith in God - Part 1

Each day can be a test to see if fear has impacted your decisions or destiny. Fear can have a positive influence as Psalm 111:15 declares, "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 19:9 states that "Fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever." The Psalmist sees fear of the Lord as a guiding light that provides a sense of safety and well-being.

At the other end of the spectrum are individuals who submit to a type of fear that diminishes the joy God intends for them to experience. We humans have the capacity to project ourselves into situations that can be crippling. Fear can stifle our creativity and overwhelm the purpose God designed for us.

Instead of yielding to destructive fear, say to yourself, "I am a child of God! He has given me the Holy Spirit to guide and direct my path.” Abraham obeyed God’s calling to become a man of faith, to stand firm and claim the opportunities He set before him. God will bless and help you.  

Never Give Up! God Will Send Help - Part 3

Recently a friend related that he was sure God called him for an important purpose. Seemingly impossible obstacles had appeared immediately from every- where. Whatever could go wrong did as a test of his determination to stay on task. He knew God's purpose for him was good and do-able, and this enabled him to rebuke every negative thought and resist every temptation Satan hurled at him.

No matter how determined the forces were to sidetrack him, the certainty of God's call gave him courage to stay focused. A compelling factor was a godly hope for the future - hope of God's blessings for others and himself. Hope gives resilience power to stand firm, regardless of disturbing distractions.

The Apostle Paul gave these encouraging words to the Christians at Thessalonica. "It's clear that God loves you and has put his hand on you for something special. When we preached to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit deposited steel in your convictions." Where there's steel in convictions, there's hope for the future.

Resilience: Standing Firm in Faith - Part 3

Most everyone acknowledges the fact of their personal limitations. To refuse to do so could prove embarrassing or even dangerous. There is a place within our body, mind, and spirit that acknowledges there are limitations to our capacity to bounce back from failure, from poor judgments and bad choices.

It's reasonable to believe that success and triumph can be as difficult to manage as failure. Stories abound of individuals who ascend to the top of the ladder of success only to fall off because of inadequate character strengths to manage success. Deliberate, destructive impulses may gain control and sabotage success.

After the last supper Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives, where he told them they were in danger of turning away from him due to the temptations they would later encounter. Peter vowed he would never fall away, yet before the evening was over, he denied even knowing Jesus. That  failure became a peak experience for Peter's character and faith that would push him forward to serve Jesus faithfully.  

Resilience: Standing Firm in Faith - Part 2

Steadfastness is a character quality that sustains the believer through hard, difficult days. Distractions remind us we are not completely sufficient in and of ourselves. Steadfastness anchored in trust to Christ Jesus prevents evil forces from pulling us away from our commitment.

James 5:11 reminds us of Job's steadfastness. He refused to surrender his faith even as Satan took away all he possessed except his life and his wife. Faithfulness is compared to a house built on solid rock that incapable of being  dislodged from its foundation by a storm. Where steadfastness is weak, it's like a house built on sand and swept away by the storm.

Steadfastness becomes rock-solid as God redeems our heart and soul. He purges away all sin and guilt and then renews our mind as we ingest his word. Jesus desires to create in you a new person that's incapable of falling away regardless of the wickedness you face. This is good news Jesus offers to you.