Thought for Friday, March 2nd

March 2, 2012

Never Give Up

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews  12:1-2

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:24-34

Quote of the Day

“The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is fully committed to him.” – Anonymous

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Sadly, it seems that modern day Christians are quick to give up when the going seems to get a little tough.

The irony in this is, that by in large, if you asked most Christians if they would love to experience a good old fashion revival in their church: most would answer enthusiastically to the affirmative.

Yet at the first sign of trials or persecution people begin to holler and they are ready to throw up their hands and run for the woods, so to speak.

We need to realize that we are in a battle against an evil force that would like nothing better than for the church to die because of lethargy and complacency and then Christians would, for the most part, no longer be a threat to his evil plans and desires to see as many souls burn in hell as he possibly can.

We are charged to go into the entire world: to labor from dawn till setting sun: to make disciples of all men: to endure: to persevere and to overcome.  We are over-comers and conquerors in Christ Jesus and we need to realize and embrace the power of God’s Spirit within us and not let the devil discourage us, get us down or push us around.  We overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and the understanding that our life is not really our own, it belongs to God.

Quitters never win and as Christians we are winners through Christ Jesus.

So don’t quit, keep the faith, fight the good fight and rejoice in the Lord always, regardless of circumstances or situations.

Today’s Prayer

Father you are faithful and true; righteous and glorious and wonderful beyond description and you are eternal and everlasting:  I rejoice in you and in the power of your might: help me to be faithful to fight; give me strength to endure and help me to be steadfast and faithful, never giving up, giving in or slowing down in my endeavors to serve and honor you.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

– Japanese Proverb

“Let the poor man say
I am rich in Him
Let the lost man say
I am found in Him
Let the blind man say
I can see again
Let the dead man say
I am born again
Holy Spirit come
Move in power“

- from ‘Let The River Flow’ by Darrell Evans