All of these things I have faced before.

Perseverance
-noun
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Theology
continuous in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

This word i am capable of doing but often time i am capable of not doing. To persevere means that there is and are hard times. To persevere means you can give up and not succeed. But, to persevere also means that we can get through hard times and we can succeed. Often times we come so close to the end but give up a foot before the finish line. Its like running a marathon and you are on the last mile and right before you brake the tape you decide that you do not want to finish the race because A. you are too tired, B.running the race is "boring", or C. I ran enough to satisfy myself. All these things are dangerous, all these things i have faced before. There have been many times where i just gave up. I was tired, bored and satisfied where i was at. I have been complacent, foolish, and prideful. All of these things are dangerous, all of these things i have faced before. I cant count the number of times i have said, well at least that did not happen, or man that was a close call. I have set myself up to loose the race before it even began. However, there are times when i have won the race, i did persevere through the hard times, the boring times, and the satisfied times. This is not dangerous and i have faced it before. I have faced the hard times and said I will get through this! and you know what? I did. We set ourselves up for failure and we do not succeed all because we decided we could not. Some people say pick your battles. I say we are going to face them so why not persevere through them all. Now i know that life is tough, trust me i know how you feel. Every morning i wake up fighting my battles and not everyday i win but at least i try, i make an effort, i persevere. Paul the apostle says it best i think.

1 Corinthians 9: 24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Every who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

At the end of the day we run the race not for ourselves but for him who persevered on the cross for our sins, for our tiredness, for our boredom, and for our complacency. We have to run the race in such a way that we can win it. The only way is Christ, we have to persevere, we have to win the race.




Stephen