How to increase your spiritual staying power
At some point in each of our lives it is possible we could stumble and fall. We can stumble because of direct sin in our lives or sometimes other people do something to us which trips us up.
But the important thing is to get right back up and put things right with the Lord (1 John 1:9) and then press on with His plan for our lives.
When we are down it is important that we do not get too comfortable there and use our present condition whether through self-disgust, hurt or rejection etc. as an excuse never to do anything again for God.
Someone might say ‘I opened up myself to people before and all I got was stabbed in the back and rejected’! Even a close associate (Judas) betrayed Jesus. Betrayal seems in some odd way to be the way of the cross and Jesus Himself certainly was not spared it! If anyone merited not being betrayed, it was Jesus since He himself never betrayed anyone. So, if it was fit for the Master, how much more for us!
Here are some scriptures that encourage staying power when things are difficult. We need to read these, meditate on them, ask ourselves if we believe them and if we do, then let them lift and encourage our hearts!
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
v12. There is a reward for resisting temptation, the crown of life.
v13. God does not tempt anyone, God cannot be tempted to do evil nor does He tempt anyone to do evil.
v14. Humans are tempted from within their own being by indwelling lusts.
v15. Once the lust has produced its evil seed sin springs up and eventually produces death of some sort in the human life.
v16 Make no mistake about this dear brothers and sisters.
Scriptures to sustain you in times of difficulty
Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
13: I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
These promises are for God’s children, so we must believe them and let them lift our hearts and heads, knowing that Jesus will soon turn our mourning into dancing and our weeping into joy. Remember the example of the Master;
Hebrews 12:2 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.
Amen
Prayer
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