I will persist until I succeed.
Hebrews 11 (Please read this entire chapter today, it is awesome)
11:1
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (NLT)
11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” (NKJV)
11:27
By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the kings’ anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” (NIV)
Perseverance, persistence and faith all work hand in hand. In the first verse we look at is a great definition of Faith. In the second verse is a very familiar verse often quoted, “without faith it is impossible to please Him,” but the second part of the verse is equally important because without diligently seeking Him or as the NIV says it earnestly seeking Him we can’t see the reward. You see a lot of the time we pray and expect it to immediately manifest, right? However we all know that it takes diligently seeking him or as Paul also says it as pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) in order to see His promise manifest. So today make sure to be like Moses and persevere because we see Him who is invisible and remember what Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed” (John 20:29).
Today be encouraged to know that you are blessed in this city, blessed in this country, blessed when you go in and blessed when you go out. YOU ARE BLESSED!!!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
I will persist until I succeed. (Part 3of 4)
I will persist until I succeed.
Hebrews 10:36
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Each day is a brand new day and we have many choices. Those who do not dwell on their past mistakes and focus on future success are the ones who are making an impact on the NOW and HERE. Do you want to make an impact?? Do you want to succeed?? I think we all have desires to receive the blessing God has promised, but possibly might lack the perseverance to continue to have faith and to press on.
So be encouraged today to press on to what God has for you and do not waiver in the faith. Because with God we can do all things, He gives us the strength, He is a God who is for us and not against us and He said that no weapon formed against us will prosper!!
Hebrews 10:36
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Each day is a brand new day and we have many choices. Those who do not dwell on their past mistakes and focus on future success are the ones who are making an impact on the NOW and HERE. Do you want to make an impact?? Do you want to succeed?? I think we all have desires to receive the blessing God has promised, but possibly might lack the perseverance to continue to have faith and to press on.
So be encouraged today to press on to what God has for you and do not waiver in the faith. Because with God we can do all things, He gives us the strength, He is a God who is for us and not against us and He said that no weapon formed against us will prosper!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I will persist until I succeed. (Part 2 of 4)
I will persist until I succeed.
Romans 2:7
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”
What Paul is referring to here is “persistence in doing good” as the proof of genuine faith. In my career I have found that persistence in any area develops many things. It can lead to success, it can lead to failure, it can lead to humility, it can lead to embarrassment, and it can lead to an overflowing of blessing …whether it is good or bad it is still action. You have to take action in order to cause a result. I have noticed that in all cases if what you are doing or the action steps you are taking, if they are within God’s will and your persistence is from the heart they will turn into the success you desired.
So today is there something that has been holding you back? Someone you have been meaning to call? Someone you have been meaning to seek out on facebook or my space? An email you wanted to send? Someone you wanted to encourage (like someone who has been sending you daily devotionals for 10 days early in the morning-just kidding) but have been scared to?
TODAY take that action, take that step to reach out to someone, call, email, add them as a friend but take action and be persistence in doing good, and trust me you won’t want to wait to see what tomorrow brings in your life.
Romans 2:7
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”
What Paul is referring to here is “persistence in doing good” as the proof of genuine faith. In my career I have found that persistence in any area develops many things. It can lead to success, it can lead to failure, it can lead to humility, it can lead to embarrassment, and it can lead to an overflowing of blessing …whether it is good or bad it is still action. You have to take action in order to cause a result. I have noticed that in all cases if what you are doing or the action steps you are taking, if they are within God’s will and your persistence is from the heart they will turn into the success you desired.
So today is there something that has been holding you back? Someone you have been meaning to call? Someone you have been meaning to seek out on facebook or my space? An email you wanted to send? Someone you wanted to encourage (like someone who has been sending you daily devotionals for 10 days early in the morning-just kidding) but have been scared to?
TODAY take that action, take that step to reach out to someone, call, email, add them as a friend but take action and be persistence in doing good, and trust me you won’t want to wait to see what tomorrow brings in your life.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I will persist until I succeed. (Part 1 of 4)
I will persist until I succeed.
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
God has set a race before us, have you ever thought about that? I know I don’t always look at it that way. I know I have been tired at times, but we need to know that we have the endurance in Him to finish it. Persistence breeds success, just think about how persistent Jesus was with his disciples in teaching them and that was Eleven Guys who changed the World through Christ. So know today that any trial you might be facing, any worry you might have in a situation, any fear that might be keeping you from your goal…Be persistent in seeking God and you will be able to overcome any trial, challenge, problem or situation you might be facing. Be persistent in seeking God and you will succeed!!
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
God has set a race before us, have you ever thought about that? I know I don’t always look at it that way. I know I have been tired at times, but we need to know that we have the endurance in Him to finish it. Persistence breeds success, just think about how persistent Jesus was with his disciples in teaching them and that was Eleven Guys who changed the World through Christ. So know today that any trial you might be facing, any worry you might have in a situation, any fear that might be keeping you from your goal…Be persistent in seeking God and you will be able to overcome any trial, challenge, problem or situation you might be facing. Be persistent in seeking God and you will succeed!!
Monday, November 3, 2008
I will greet this day with love in my heart. (Part 4 of 4)
I will greet each day with love in my heart.
Luke 10:27
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”
We love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength, which pretty much covers it all right? Our God is a jealous God and we must remember that we must put him first in our lives. That is something that held me back from accepting Him early in my searching for what was missing. I questioned as to why a God would want me to put him before my kids. Once I realized that it was Him who gave me my kids, I completely humbled myself and put him first in my life. Because any time I ever question whether God is real, all I have to do is think of my wife and children (who I think are pretty awesome!!!!). I am truly blessed with an awesome family.
So if you question His existence think of your loved ones and know that He is Alive and He is Real.
Luke 10:27
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”
We love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength, which pretty much covers it all right? Our God is a jealous God and we must remember that we must put him first in our lives. That is something that held me back from accepting Him early in my searching for what was missing. I questioned as to why a God would want me to put him before my kids. Once I realized that it was Him who gave me my kids, I completely humbled myself and put him first in my life. Because any time I ever question whether God is real, all I have to do is think of my wife and children (who I think are pretty awesome!!!!). I am truly blessed with an awesome family.
So if you question His existence think of your loved ones and know that He is Alive and He is Real.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
I will greet this day with love in my heart. (Part 3 of 4)
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
Psalm 1:2
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Each day we awake we should take delight in the Lord, for the past 7 days the first thing I grab in the morning, after my coffee of course is my Bible and I sit down to read it. I consider it a pleasure that I am able to take the time and get into the Word daily. There are many countries you have to actually sneak a Bible in to read it. We are entering a time in our country where we need to have something we can ultimately count on…GOD.. We live in an economy and a society full of fear where we have no idea what to expect tomorrow. What we can know for sure if we are granted a tomorrow we can count on God. We must make sure we are taking delight in his word and meditate on it because it is alive and we can count on it being truth. So be encouraged to know that God is here now and we can expect him to be consistent in his message according to His Word.
So today count on God to move in your life!!!!
Psalm 1:2
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Each day we awake we should take delight in the Lord, for the past 7 days the first thing I grab in the morning, after my coffee of course is my Bible and I sit down to read it. I consider it a pleasure that I am able to take the time and get into the Word daily. There are many countries you have to actually sneak a Bible in to read it. We are entering a time in our country where we need to have something we can ultimately count on…GOD.. We live in an economy and a society full of fear where we have no idea what to expect tomorrow. What we can know for sure if we are granted a tomorrow we can count on God. We must make sure we are taking delight in his word and meditate on it because it is alive and we can count on it being truth. So be encouraged to know that God is here now and we can expect him to be consistent in his message according to His Word.
So today count on God to move in your life!!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
I will greet this day with love in my heart. (Part 2 of 4)
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails.”
If we could for just 21 days read this verse every day prior to leaving our house, just think what it could do. They say if you repeat something after 21 days it becomes a habit. As we go out into the world there are many things that cause us to not love, trust me I know living in Atlanta and dealing with traffic, I have to repeat the first 3 words all the time. Or meeting someone who is filled with hate, spite or is vindictive. But in the verse Paul so eloquently defines what love is. So as you go out today, I challenge you to greet this day with love in your heart. Say this verse for 21 days prior to leaving your house.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails.”
If we could for just 21 days read this verse every day prior to leaving our house, just think what it could do. They say if you repeat something after 21 days it becomes a habit. As we go out into the world there are many things that cause us to not love, trust me I know living in Atlanta and dealing with traffic, I have to repeat the first 3 words all the time. Or meeting someone who is filled with hate, spite or is vindictive. But in the verse Paul so eloquently defines what love is. So as you go out today, I challenge you to greet this day with love in your heart. Say this verse for 21 days prior to leaving your house.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)