I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Timothy 4:7
The other morning, I went to take the pup outside in the dark when I saw it was raining. I didn’t have an umbrella with me, but wanted to get him out to do his business. I figured I’d rough it, so I just pulled my scarf up over my head. I might have looked silly, but I wanted to stay dry! As soon as I stepped out, down I went. That wasn’t just any old rain! Everything was pure ice outside. How did I forget that freezing rain was forecasted as a possibility?
I didn’t get hurt at all, and that was the least of my problems. I still had to get the pup to an area where he could do his business. This seemed like an impossible task. I didn’t have ice skates, and even if I did, they wouldn’t help me because I don’t know how to ice skate! I shuffled, I slid, and I did what one might think of as some funny dance moves. I supposed I would’ve had to crawl if necessary. I had no choice but to get from point A to point B to complete my mission.
The character trait for today is Determination-purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition (definition from characterfirst.com).
This made me think about how many times we just feel like giving up. If our goals are lined up with God’s goals for us, we shouldn’t face opposition…right? Not true! Sometimes it’s when we face the most. The devil doesn’t want us to accomplish God’s will.
What’s going to stop us from quitting? Not wanting the devil to win seems like a pretty good motivator to me. He would do too much celebrating if I got upset because that pup did his business anywhere but where he was supposed to, and frankly, this is where my stubbornness can be a positive thing. I don’t want him to win because each time he does, he gets a little bolder, more confident, and savvy in keeping us down the next time. He isn’t just winning over us, we’re letting him win over God. I don’t like seeing the bad guy win…I root for the good guy!
Today, be determined! Then, rely on God to help you deal with the opposition. He’s always waiting to help you make it across the slippery path we call life. You might need to shuffle, slide, or even crawl, but never give up! If you fall, don’t slink away like the devil wants, but have courage and try again. I found this little saying: Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.
Don’t give the devil the satisfaction of winning; keep your determination, and if necessary, just try again tomorrow! Fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith.
