To endure means: to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.

Living life:

I had to wait in line at the airport for an hour to get through security. Can you think of something in your life that required endurance — something that was hard or required great patience? She had to endure 24 hours of labor. Is there something in your life that requires endurance right now?

Don’t give up:

The truth is, we all have to endure at some time in our lives. The key is not to give up. The Lord doesn’t give up on us. Psalm 136:1 — Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever. God’s love for us endures forever. The word says in 1 Corinthians 13:8 — Love never fails. Everything else will pass away, but God’s love for us won’t. He puts up with us. He also says in Matthew 24:13 — But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Endure here means: to remain, basically not to retreat. We must all learn to put up with hard things, discouraging things, in life.

Succeed:

To endure hardships, to remain in times of difficulty, is one of the main keys to succeeding. We must learn to endure hardship as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3). It could mean the difference between heaven and hell for us — the difference between success and failure. Learning to endure can save your life.

We will all encounter problems, but let’s endure.

Just a thought,

PSS

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Gal 6:9 NLT). The King James Version says, “Let us not be weary in well doing.”

Weariness:

Weary, from the Greek, means: to be utterly spiritless, to be exhausted. Another translation says, “Do not lose heart in doing good.” In today’s world it is easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted with life and its obligations. It’s during these times we can quit doing what we know is right, and it’s during these moments we are susceptible to making mistakes we otherwise wouldn’t make. It’s also a time when we can quit doing what God says is right.

Rest:

If we are feeling overwhelmed, tired all the time, we must learn how to reset, take some moments to rest, to rest our minds from thinking, worrying about life, all we have to do: work, family, school, making ends meet. If we are not careful, we will run ourselves down to the point of discouragement, even with God. The disappointments of life will begin to add up and knock us even further down.

Recharge:

So, how do I begin to regain my life, my energy back? Disconnect from unnecessary obligations. In other words, maybe you have obligated yourself way too thin. Let go of difficult relationships. Take more time to regenerate. Rest and charge your batteries.

Maybe you hate your job but can’t seem to get to a place to find a new one. Maybe you just need to make a decision to not make a decision so that you won’t allow it to drain you any longer. Maybe what’s drawing your energy is continually meditating on, thinking about, unrealistic, unexpressed expectations of others. This will be a constant drain of your energy.

Whatever we can do to simplify our lives and give us some moments to recharge will help us stay energized and prevent us from making bad decisions.

Just a thought,

PSS

How do you see God? How do you honor and please God? These are questions all of us should ask ourselves from time to time.

Only believe:

Do you really believe? Or, do you wear God like a sticker, a patch, or a designer shirt? Do you believe when it’s convenient, or do you purpose to please Him in all of your ways, especially when it’s hard?

Double-mindedness:

With God, you can’t compartmentalize your walk with Him. You can’t act one way at church and act another at home, or at work, or out socializing with friends. Too often, when people are caught doing wrong, they are quick to say, “Yeah, but I’m a Christian. I believe in God.”

Getting to know Him:

If you are truly right with God (as in, saved or born again), then you will have a real desire to get to know Him. You will want to please Him. You will want to learn His ways and follow His teachings. You won’t be living two separate ways, but you will be consistently living according to God’s word, wherever you go. Your walk will match your talk.

God will no longer be a patch you wear. Instead, you will purpose to serve and please Him in everything you do.

Just a thought,

PSS

As Christians, our responsibility is to obey God — to do what He asks.

Intentions:

We deal so much with the intentionality of our heart when we should be concerned with the obedience we walk in. It’s the willing and obedient who eat of the good of the land (Isa 1:19). When we focus so much on the intention of our motives, it can paralyze us spiritually. Instead, we should work to obey God and His word, so just do what He asks. I believe this would simplify our walk. God will deal with our intention (the why-we-do-what-we-do), because who can know the heart?

Actions:

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards according to what their actions deserve (Jer. 17:10). One translation states, “according to the results of his deeds.” It’s what we do that matters with God, at times, more than why we do it.

Feelings:

Maybe I don’t want to help, or feel like helping, someone; but if I help them anyway, who cares how I felt? We may not feel like obeying, or want to obey, God; but if we obey anyway, then God says that’s what He will deal with — our actions.

Motives:

Only God knows the heart fully — our motives. Those are all subject to change over time. But what He sees, what He rewards or deals with, are our actions. What we do is what counts. I had good intentions, but I didn’t do anything. That doesn’t help anyone. It has been said “Hell is paved with good intentions.”

Do what you know is right, and don’t get so caught up with the intention of your actions.

Just a thought,

PSS

The little things in life do matter.

Everyday choices:

Your character really isn’t formed by the big events of your life. Instead, who you are is ultimately determined by the smaller choices you make each day. When you choose to do what’s right every chance you get, you’re more likely to stick to your principles when the pressure is really on. On the flip side, if you let the small things slide, you’ll follow the path of least resistance — even if it means compromising your core values.

One small step: 

John Wooden said, “Little things make big things happen.” We all play just as we practice. How you do the everyday stuff will determine how you live your life. During his 2014 commencement address to graduates at the University of Texas, Admiral William McRaven reflected on the many lessons he learned during his 36 years as a Navy Seal. The first item on his list? Make your bed every morning.

Bed-making:

Little things, such as making your bed, set you up for success. One small accomplishment early in the day can lead to multiple accomplishments throughout the day. Plus, the person who does the little things right can probably be trusted with the bigger things in life. Jesus said the same thing more than 2,000 years ago (Luke 16:10).

Don’t overlook the small, everyday things of life — by doing the small things, you are ensuring your success in life. Neglecting them will only hinder your opportunities for real success.

Just a thought,

PSS