Never Give Up
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
I eased forward to
hear what he would say. Looking intently into their faces, he said confidently,
“ I need you to score ten runs in this inning. Just go out and kill the ball.
You can do it.” And unbelievably, they did. They scored ten runs and held on to
win. Their coach knew they had the potential, and he told them to keep trying.
We who know Christ also have an Encourager in the everyday
battles. He knows our potential and has given us the tools to overcome the
difficulties. Through the ups and downs of life, He continually urges us to
focus on the prize and press on.
The apostle Paul understood this. He was beaten, imprisoned,
and misunderstood for following Christ, but refused to quit. In Philippians
3:14 and 15, he declared, …I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature
should take such a view.
Through Paul, God says to us , “You can overcome. Don’t
quit being faithful. Don’t quit ministering to others. Don’t quit praying.” Our
Coach reminds us, “You can do it. Press on, and no matter what, never, never
give up.”
Father, we know that all things are possible with You.
Carol
adversity
The Warning
Do not be
wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Proverbs 3:7
On the first day of our vacation at Big Bend National Park,
a mountain lion attacked a hiker. Consequently, for safety’s sake the park
rangers decided to close the trails.
My husband and I had really been looking forward to hiking.
In fact, that was the main reason we went to Big Bend. However, we respected
the wisdom of the rangers and stayed off the trails. Some other folks did not.
As we sat on a bench near the trailhead, I saw three young
men approach the “Trails Closed” sign and stop to read it. Then, in spite of
the written warning, they walked around the barrier and proceeded up the
trail.
A few hours later the rangers had to shoot a mountain lion
prowling near the lodge. It was presumably looking for food. I immediately
thought about the three men who had ignored the warning sign. They were
fortunate they hadn’t met that hungry lion on the trail. The consequences could
have been disastrous.
Proverbs 3:7 tells us not to be wise in our own eyes. In
other words, we shouldn’t think we know more than we actually do. The three
hikers seemed to think they were smarter than the park rangers. In spite of the
official warning, they discounted the rangers’ experience and authority and put
themselves at risk.
God gives us warning signs too. The scripture is full of
them. They are for our protection. If we choose to ignore the Bible’s warnings
and fail to respect God’s authority, we are as foolish as those hikers.
Father, help me to respect Your warnings and choose Your
way.
Carol
obedience
The Accident
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his
saints. Psalm 116:15
I was angry. The accident was senseless. Eloise had just
left the hospital after visiting a sick neighbor. She was standing on the
corner waiting for the light to change. For a moment she lost her balance and
stepped into the street. An oncoming car ground into her, and she died
instantly.
Just like that, her life ended. Her family lost a wife and
mother. I lost a special friend. No one could fill her place. We still needed
her, but she was gone.
The day of her funeral, the church was full. I took a seat
in the back and struggled to control my tears. When the minister began to
speak, I listened half-heartedly. I had already decided nothing he could say
would comfort me. Then he quoted a verse that caught my attention: Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15).
Was that God’s outlook? I had been so caught up in my loss I
hadn’t considered God’s perspective of Eloise’s death. As much as I valued
Eloise, the verse reminded me God valued her even more. She was His beloved.
And how about my friend’s perspective? Years ago Eloise had
entrusted her life to God. She said He’d never failed her. As long as I’d known
her, she was happy in their relationship. Now she was …at home with the Lord
(2 Corinthians 5:8). Surely she was
happier than ever.
If God and Eloise were satisfied, perhaps I should try to
let go of my anger and self- pity.
I knew I would continue to miss Eloise, but I left the
funeral with a new feeling—gratitude. I was grateful for my time with her. God
had blessed me through knowing Eloise. My life was richer because she had been
my friend.
Father, thank you for godly friends. Help me be such a
friend to others.
Carol
grief
The
Cavern
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
One summer our family toured Luray Cavern. Our guided tour
took us deeper and deeper into the earth. As we walked the well-lit path, our
leader pointed out the natural wonders on all sides.
When we reached a level spot, he stopped beside a power
switch and said, “Now I’m going to turn off the lights so you can experience
absolute darkness.” As he hit the switch, the deepest black I’d ever known
settled around me. Sheer terror began to suffocate me.
Just when I felt I couldn’t endure another second there, I
recalled a scripture I’d memorized. A still, small voice seemed to remind me, God
hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound
mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).
I realized then that the overwhelming fear that gripped me
wasn’t from God, and He didn’t want it to control me. In fact, he had something
to give me in its place.
As I asked Him to take away the spirit of fear, it
immediately vanished. A feeling of peace swept over me, and my panic was gone.
In short, I was fine.
Ever since then when fear attacks, I focus on 2 Timothy 1:7.
Fear may nip at my heels, but I don’t have to let it overwhelm me.
God is so good. He doesn’t want us crippled by a spirit of
fear. He wants us to overcome that feeling through His gift of power, love, and
a sound mind.
Father, thank you for being with me when I am afraid.
Carol
peace
The
Transformation
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
Several years ago my cousin and his wife bought a
fifty-year-old ranch style home. In spite of its dated interior, they loved the
house and envisioned what it could become.
So, they got to work tearing down walls, replacing floors,
and renovating everything. Eventually they transformed that house into a
reflection of their taste and style.
God transforms us in much the same way. In spite of how messed
up we are to begin with, He loves us and envisions what we can become. As soon
as we belong to Him, He gets to work making us over into a reflection of
Himself.
The apostle Paul wrote, …he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion… (Philippians 1:6). I believe God did that
in Paul’s life. The good work began, strangely enough, when Paul was on road
trip to arrest Christian believers. Along the way, he met Jesus. From that
beginning, God began to transform Paul: the Christ-hater eventually became one
who was totally devoted to the Savior.
I wasn’t exactly a Christ-hater when I met Jesus, but I was
disgustingly full of myself. I needed a makeover. When I gave Christ ownership
of my life, He began making me over to reflect Him.
Just like that house my cousin made over, I can’t take any
credit for my transformation. God alone had the vision and the power to make
the changes.
Happily, we believers can look forward God continuing to
work on us and in us everyday.
Transformation is a never ending process and a great
adventure.
Father, thank You for Your promise to complete a good
work in us.
Carol
spiritual growth
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