Pause
Staying after it. Not giving up. Being stubborn.
Persistence. It's hard to say just where this characteristic comes from, but in the life of faith we can say that, when we do not give up on matters of righteousness, persistence has its source in God.
That is because there is none so persistent, so faithful as this One we follow. Make it your intent, just in these next few moments, to be focused on listening for God.
Listen
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Think
When I was young, I didn’t go to church very often, but I can remember just about every time I was at a church. Almost always, I remember a man standing at the front, up high, speaking. I never liked it because, like my parents, he always wanted to tell me what to do.
Like many people, I don’t want to be told what to do. I don’t think I need to be told what to do. But I know that I am not perfect and I am not God.
The fact is, more than not, the bad things that happen to me are often because of actions that I choose to take. This is why we need preachers. Preachers remind us of the Gospels. Gospel means “good news.” But the Gospels teach us that for truly good news to happen in our lives, we have to change. God loves us as we are but loves us too much to leave us as we are.
Patrick Kangrga
Pray
God, I am stubborn. I like to live the Burger King life and have it my way. I sometimes think I don’t need you or to hear what you want me to hear. Help me to have open ears when people are telling me the good news. Help me to realize how the good news you give me through preachers and teachers calls me to continually change, calls me to live the life you desire for me to live. Amen.
Go
Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 (The Contemporary English Version)
