Christian Growth: Perseverance

Diamonds the most precious gem known to mankind was once a piece of coal that stuck to its job by enduring pressure and heat. What are you willing to stick with to achieve your dreams? This article is about perseverance, a necessary ingredient to your worthy pursuits. Talents, skills and gifts alone will not land you to your desired haven. Perseverance is the key to accomplish your dreams. Your success is largely dependent upon the following three characteristics:

• Persistence. The act of holding firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state, goal, or undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks.

• Determination. The quality of mind which reaches definite conclusions; decisions of character; resoluteness.

• Perseverance. Persistent determination like the caterpillar that builds a cocoon before becoming a butterfly each stage of the process was a necessary struggle to become what it was destined to be. Likewise, perseverance is a building block to your character and is necessary for personal Christian growth.

When you are persevering through your difficulties you are demonstrating the true essence of success. Why? Because it takes time to discover the true nature of anything. It was through many trials and errors Thomas Edison, the father of electricity persevered until he discovered the way to make the light bulb work. He was quoted as saying, “I have not failed I have just found 10,000 ways that it won’t work.”  Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. History has proven that success and victory were the results of apparent defeat and failure. It was preserving through the challenges of life that Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and many other notable people fulfilled their God given purpose and destiny. Remember the story of the race between the Hare and the Turtle. The rabbit is known for swiftness and the turtle for being slow. The turtle won the race by persevering and keeping a steady pace.

Your desire to achieve your dreams is somewhat like a race in life. You must be willing to persevere and keep a steady pace. Always Acknowledge God in all your ways and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3: 6)

Wouldn’t it be nice if life was a bed of roses, without the thorns of course but in this life you are guaranteed to face difficulties? John 16:33b says, in this life you will have tribulations (difficulties); but be of good cheer (encouraged), I have overcome (prevailed in life) the world. If you want to be a winner in life you must be willing to do what winners do. They run the race to win the race. Remember the race is not given to the swift, but he that endures (perseveres) to the end wins. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 paraphrase cod) DON’T QUIT “ Famous Poem, When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, as every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup; and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit - it’s when things seem worst,
you must not quit. Author Unknown Remember the supreme example of perseverance was when Jesus died on the cross and rose again the third day so that you and I could experience the abundant life. Jesus came that you might have life more abundantly John 10:10b Why not let 2007 be your year of perfection, your year of maturity in which you’re long awaited desires and dreams become a reality. You can accomplish this by having a plan and then persevering until you arrive at your destination. Again, “Acknowledge God in all of your ways and He will direct your paths”. Proverbs 3:6

Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) British author. When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) Thirty-second President of the USA. Christian Supplies publishes articles based on the principals of biblical success. Carolyn Dickens is a teacher of biblical success principals. All rights reserved.

We must understand that what we ponder and think about sets the
course for our lives, because what we ponder and think about gets
magnified and becomes attracted to us. It’s “cause and effect.”
Many people will curse the effect, but continue to nourish the
cause. The problem isn’t that they’re a victim, but the culprit.
Most of our current circumstances were birthed from our thoughts,
and at any time we choose, we can change it all. We have both the
ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning
today.

If the idea of having to change yourself makes you uncomfortable,
you can remain as you are, but then you would have no right to
complain.

Make a decision right now. Change that area of your life you want
to change. How? Start by making a list of the things you
habitually say about your undesirable circumstance. Get help from
someone who knows you well. Ask him or her what negative things
you say regularly. And be open minded! Don’t get mad at them for
telling you the truth. I will promise you that you are saying
things you don’t realize you’re saying!

Once you have your list of verbal garbage, make another list that
contains positive, faith filled sentences that are directly
opposite. Don’t worry about whether these new sentences are true
or not. It makes no difference. Your subconscious mind does not
distinguish true from false. It only accepts the information you
give it.

Now what you want to do is burn this new programming into your
mind. Read and confess it everyday. Remember, what we ponder and
think about sets the course for our lives, because what we ponder
and think about gets magnified and becomes attracted to us.
Cause and effect says, “Think repetitive thoughts, reap their
physical manifestations.”

Again, if you’re frustrated with a certain area of your life and
you want to make a change, you can change it as soon as you
decide to change it. You must start by changing your thoughts
and what you say about it.

Daniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur and teacher of biblical
success principles. Get his FREE report, “Christian Prosperity
Secrets” when you sign up for his FREE weekly newsletter…
http://www.SecretPlaceOnline.com

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