Happy Labor Day Monday!
These weeks just keep flying by! Fall is approaching quickly, even though in Florida, for the most part that just means I change my decorations.
These past weeks, I have watched people I love go through health issues, emotional issues and Spiritual issues. Sometimes, they get discouraged. Do you know what I’m talking about? Have you ever thought you might as well just go on and throw in the towel? Well, I have. I have gotten grumpy, frustrated and been known to complain on occasion. Those are not my finer moments.
These same people I love have been such a wonderful example of strength and God’s love! This is reflected in their attitudes and is a constant blessing to those around them.
When you let discouragement overcome you, you can’t be effective in what you are doing and most often won’t be able to accomplish your goals. These are Satan’s gateways. He loves to catch us vulnerable and can sneak his thoughts in through the smallest cracks in your armor.
Is life easy? Not in my world. Is life doable? Absolutely! Think of the most encouraging verse of scripture you have read. Memorize it and focus on it. Have it ready for every time you need it! Philippians 4:13 will always be at the top of my list. There isn’t a lot I can accomplish on my own, but when I rely on HIM, everything changes!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So simple and SO powerful.
Pray Unceasingly!!
In His light,
Lois
Nothing Worthwhile Is Ever Easy
Rick Warren
“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).
There are many things that work to keep us from completing our life missions. Over the years, I’ve debated whether the worst enemy is procrastination or discouragement. If Satan can’t get us to put off our life missions, then he’ll try to get us to quit altogether.
The apostle Paul teaches that we need to resist discouragement: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).
Do you ever get tired of doing what’s right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing.
When we’re discouraged, we become ineffective. When we’re discouraged, we work against our own faith.
When we’re discouraged, we’re saying, “It can’t be done.” That’s the exact opposite of saying, “I know God can do it because of what he said.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- How do I handle failure?
- When things don’t go my way, do I get grumpy?
- When things don’t go my way, do I get frustrated?
- When things don’t go my way, do I start complaining?
- Do I finish what I start?
- How would I rate on persistence?
If you’re discouraged, don’t give up without a fight. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without endurance and energy.
When an artist creates a sculpture, he has to keep chipping away. He doesn’t hit the chisel with the hammer once, and suddenly all the excess stone falls away, revealing a beautiful masterpiece. He keeps hitting it and hitting it, chipping away at the stone.
And that’s true of life, too. Nothing really worthwhile ever comes easy in life. You keep hitting it and going after it, and little by little your life becomes a masterpiece of God’s grace.
The fact is that great people are really just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people don’t know how to quit.