March 24th, 2017

  Perseverance Builds Integrity (Philippians 1:6)
 
Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
 
As you continue to seek God’s purpose for your life, it is certain you will experience your fair share of disappointments, detours, delays, discouragements and dead ends. When you do, you’re facing one of those expected tests of character. How will you respond? Remember, God is not finished with you yet. Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 2:13, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. God insists that we remain consistent in our daily walk as we seek His purpose for our life.
 
The Apostle Paul gives us a cause for further encouragement. Here we see the good work of salvation and discipleship which our Lord began when He saved us. God always finishes what He starts. He never leaves the job half done. He “will perform” this good work in us “until the day of Jesus Christ.” The words will perform has the sense to ‘accomplish,’ ‘finish,’ or ‘complete.’
 
The next time you find your courage tested to the limit, remember that God is just as near as your next breath, and remember that He offers strength and comfort to all His children. He is your shield, strength, protector and deliverer. He wants to give you comfort for the journey. Call upon Him in your hour of need. Jesus taught that perseverance is the essential element in prayer. Whatever your tribulation, trouble, or trial God can help you persevere. And that’s exactly what He’ll do if you ask Him.
 
Perhaps you are in a hurry for God to help you solve your problem. Maybe you’re eager to receive the rewards that you feel you’ve already earned from life. Perhaps you’re pacing back and forth, impatiently waiting for God to act. Keep in mind, God operates on His own timetable, not yours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes, God may answer your prayers with silence, and when He does, you must patiently persevere. In times of trouble, you must remain steadfast and trust in the goodness and mercy of your Heavenly Father. Whatever your problem is, He can manage it. Your job is to keep persevering until He does.
 
Prayer: Lord, when life gets hard and when I am tempted to abandon hope remind me that You are my God, and I can draw strength from You. Let me always put my trust in You, Father, in good times and in bad times. Let me persevere even if my soul is troubled and let me follow Your Son Jesus Christ this day and forever. Amen