July 8, 2022
Contenders Have Endurance
Precious one, contenders have endurance. A boxer endures to the end of the fight, he may have a busted lip, broken nose, swollen eyes, and blood dripping off his brow, but he will hang in there, endure and fight to the end. Boxers don’t live in the gym or the ring, they are constantly training. I am not just a Christian when I go to church or I am around others, I walk the walk and talk the talk all the time 24 x 7. We are persecuted but not abandoned. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10) Let us not forget that Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, and bit by a snake – his life was not a bed of roses, but he was passionate about his mission.
There are times in our lives we go through hardships, and we do not understand why? We may suffer and go through challenges but remember suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character and character produces hope. (Romans 15:3-5) I believe when God has a great plan for your future, you will go through the fire. He has a great plan for you! (Jeremiah 29:11-13) I have been through the fire minimum of eight times in the last twenty-five years. I can tell you with each time I further died to my flesh, consecrating myself unto the Lord. (Psalms 51:10) Each time I was humbled and prepared for promotion. There is always a blessing on the other side of what you are walking through. The Lord told Peter, ‘Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So, when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:33 NLT)
When you are going through the fire:
1. Praise the Lord while walking through and confuse the enemy.
2. Read the Word of God daily and meditate on it.
3. Listen to scriptures. Why? Faith comes by hearing. (App. Bible.IS) is a great resource
4. Stay focused on Father God and He will lift you above your circumstances.
5. Focus on the Blessing waiting on you on the other side of this present challenge.
Are you away that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let’s lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1) For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (1 Peter 2:20) Blessed is the one who perseveres under trials because having stood the tests that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) Our assignment is to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and Faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Contenders have endurance!
