Lately, I have been hearing one resounding message, both from God and from several ministers I have listened to.
The message I am hearing is perseverance is required.
In this world of fast food, instant messages, microwaves…we want everything fast.
In God, things do not always happen that way. I wish they did. I always think about the men and women of God that were my mentors…way back thirty years ago. They knew what it meant to ‘pray through.’ They knew the power of standing in faith and refusing to move until the answer manifested.
The church today, at least a large part, do not know that same perseverance. We saw this clearly through the election and beyond. When many who were standing in faith went from saying, “God is going to heal our land” to saying, “They are destroying our nation”, their lack of perseverance was evident.
If God’s plan was to heal our land in the beginning, and the Word of God says it is, then His plan didn’t change. Neither should our words concerning our nation.
I heard a story this morning I had never heard before. It was about Oral Roberts. I knew he was healed as a young boy. He received his healing when someone laid hands on him. Which seemed to be instant. However, what I learned today was it took a year of him standing on the Word of God to be made completely whole. He had to persevere with the Word of God.
Hebrews 3:14, in the New Living Translation says, “For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.”
As I have walked through this medical issue – I had hoped there was a quick fix. I thought for certain I would be back to feeling normal by now – however, it hasn’t been that way. God is teaching me to trust God through the process.
Each day I dig a little deeper in the Word of God. Daily I confess His Word over myself. I have determined to come out stronger than when it started – to come out into an abundant place. However, to do that, to SHARE IN ALL THAT BELONGS TO CHRIST, as Hebrews 3:14 says, I must trust God firmly, from the beginning to the very end.
I don’t know where you find yourself today. But this I do know, if you persevere you will see victory. If you hold your confidence STEADFAST to the end.
It’s not easy – I know that firsthand. Some days it is very difficult. Yet, perseverance is required.
My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. (James 1:2-4, Passion Translation)
God has a plan for our perseverance – it is nothing missing and nothing lacking. Complete wholeness.
I encourage you today to make a plan. Set aside some time each day to seek God. To declare His Word. To read your Bible. To persevere. For perseverance is required if you want to see victory.
Meditate on this!
The root of the righteous is immovable. Proverbs 12:3
