being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1: 11-12
Have you ever gotten so excited that you didn’t care what you looked like? Were you willing to go to great lengths to reach your goal? Would you keep going simply because you refused to give up?
That was me recently. We took the boys to a creek where you were able to search and sift for gems. I admit that I got really excited! After we were done, my hubby told me that he had as much fun listening to my whoops and excitement as he did looking for the gems himself. Hey, they might not have been rubies and sapphires, but I was finding treasure!
At one point, there was a big rock with all kinds of gems underneath. The only problem was trying to get to them. I needed to reach way back in and the water was getting a little deep in that spot. It was a chilly day and I didn’t want to get water on my clothes. We were wearing long gloves and I could only go so far with my hand, but I wasn’t going to give up.
I had to get creative because nothing was going to get in my way. Before I knew it, I was lying on that rock with my feet in the air and my head almost in the water. What happened to my dignity? I realized that when I really wanted something, nothing was going to stop me. I had to persevere!
I found out something on that adventure. Some might call this particular character trait I have “stubbornness”, but I see it as perseverance…as endurance. I don’t give up! Now, if I’m able to persevere when it doesn’t look like I’d be able to reach my goal, which I did, doesn’t that mean I can apply that endurance to inward strength? Absolutely!
The character trait for today is Endurance-the inward strength to withstand stress and do my best (definition from characterfirst.com).
The key is, I don’t just have my strength, I have God’s strength! Knowing that, it’s so important that we have a new outlook on life starting right now. What a revelation to have as a new year starts. We are fully capable of withstanding all stress that might come our way through God’s power.
Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Are you about to quit because you can’t handle it? STOP! If God put that on your heart, you’re in His will. You have His power! Don’t let your thoughts mess with that. Don’t let others’ words mess with that. STAY STRONG!
There are two things you can do right now. Have one more year where you don’t accomplish what you set out to do, or find victory. The battle is mostly on the inside, where you let your own words, someone else’s words, and the devil’s nasty put-downs into your mind. Make your words line up with God’s and don’t let anything else in!
I challenge you to write down that goal and put it everywhere. Take a look at everything you do and ask yourself if it’ll help you reach your goal. If not, it probably isn’t worth eating, saying, watching, or hearing! When you feel weak, say, “I’m being strengthened with all God’s power!” over and over again until your thoughts are lining up with God’s. Write it on the mirror (use dry erase markers), on the shower walls (use bathtub crayons), on your computer, on your phone, on the fridge…I might buy stock in post-it notes!
Whatever you do, stay excited and DON’T GIVE UP!
