Don’t give up! Just give in to Jesus– In His Word 1-23-17
Some days we are so tired of
dealing with life itself that we just want to throw up
our hands and shout “ I give up!” God’s Word tells us different!
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask
in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven
and tossed by the wind. For let not that
man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded
man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:1-11
We need to
resolve to keep going, walk with God as our guide even when things feel as if they will never get better;
God is with us in our trials, He will bring us through when we trust in Him to
do so. Despite how we feel we need to press on for the prize is before us!
Blessed is the man who
endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of
life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
I don’t mean
to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus
first possessed me. No, dear
brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting
the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to
reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through
Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who
are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I
believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
Philippians 3:12-18
If we do not give up our fight to do the
right thing we can indeed press on and finish the race (our lives) He has given
us.
Running in Track as a child I found exhilaration
at approaching the finish line. No matter how far behind I was, how tired I was
or how defeated I felt I would push out of myself a little bit more to get
there. I was not a first place runner but I did not let that stop me from
running as fast as I could toward the white line on the ground that signified
that I had completed the race. As I became a teen I began having mild asthma
and this shortened my running in damp weather. Some times I would run that long
run as if I were running against time; I would run to complete the race before
I had trouble breathing. I found that if
I stayed calm I could run quite far before my lungs ‘caught up with me’ and
reminded me that they needed more air. I had to press on and keep my eyes on
the finish line. One day in P.E. my coach put me in a 440 race not
understanding that I had breathing problems. She did not listen to my protests
but looked at them as an excuse. I was so upset at her and figured she just
thought I was lazy; I put it in my head to win the race to prove I could do it. Coming around the final curve I thought I would collapse but then; I set my mind on the finish line and I ran the race with all my heart, all my
strength and every breath I had in me. I came inches from beating the first
place runner. Even though I could not
breath at the end of the race and had to throw myself on the ground to get the
air out of my lungs; I proved to myself that I was not lazy and that I could
finish the race.
Whenever I feel like giving up in life I
am reminded of the ‘push’ I had that day and know that God will give me that
extra stamina to complete any race He has put before me. There will be no
temptation, no trial, not persecution that I cannot endure when I realize that
God is with me in all that I do. It does not matter how many files you have to
deal with piling up on your desk; or how many piles of clothes you have to
wash, kids you have to feed, and hurdles you have to leap over to get to the
next pay day. If God is with you, and if you remember that He is with you; ask,
seek, knock.
“Ask, and it will be
given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 1:7
The Lord also will be a refuge
for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10
A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10
He will not forsake
you, do not forsake Him; do not give up for God is with you. He will give you
the encouragement to continue the race and will help you breathe at the end. That
day running I found out that I could do anything I put my mind to do to prove
the right thing. Do not fear what man can do to you, press on doing the thing
that is right in God’s eyes. Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with
such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave
you nor forsake you.” So we may
boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6.
Trust God, continue in right living and be
obedient to those in charge no matter if it seems like they do not believe you,
God will help you through to the prize if you keep your heart and mind focused
on Him and His goodness.
Dear
Heavenly Father, Help us to follow You, to be obedient to those in authority
over us and know that You Lord will help us through all things and there is no
need to fear because You will help us through to the end of the race and find
the prize is forever with You, in Jesus name, amen.
Read
some more: James 1:1- 27, Hebrews 13:1-26, Psalm 9:1-20, And Philippians 3:1-21
So
then, my beloved brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce
the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20