Don't Give Up!

When the coach says you're falling behind the other athletes in your training, don't give up! When the editors of the book you're writing don't like your prose, theme, or message, don't give up! When members of your own church are gossiping behind your back about you and causing a public scene, don't give up! When you've worked hard at the same company for 20 years and they passed you over for a promotion, don't give up!

We've all been there ... faced with crisis, challenges, and stumbling blocks sent to thwart us in our forward motion. That's the human experience. However, Christians face a challenge of another kind. The day we gave our lives to the God of the universe by being united with His Son Jesus Christ in the watery grave of baptism (Romans 6:1-4, John 3:3-5), we not only rose up out of the water a new creation, born again, and resurrected to a new life, we gained a formidable enemy called the Devil.

Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ~ Ephesians 6:10-12

That puts things in proper perspective. There's an unseen enemy who many times uses physical distractions to get us off the mark. We must recognize this battle for what it is and continue to press on. Paul says to the Christians at Galatia, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." ~ Galatians 6:9

Keep your head held high Child of God, Soldier of Christ, and recipient of the Holy Spirit. And Remember .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!!!!!