Hanging Tough and Loving It!

(Thank you, Gerry Williams for sharing this!)

• “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
  — Charles Spurgeon
• “Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.”
  — Samuel Johnson
• “We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.”
  — Helen Keller

Perseverance is essential for a joyful life. It allows us to consistently pursue a goal or unwaveringly live out our beliefs, regardless of obstacles or difficulties. Here are four principles to consider:

• Training. Only the foolish attempt to run a marathon without preparation. Simple day-to-day disciplines, such as prayer and studying the Bible, prepare one’s faith to endure.
• Sustainable pace. Believers sometimes try to accomplish too much too quickly. Those often find themselves fatigued or burned out. Waiting on the Lord’s timing sets an appropriate pace.
• Staying the course. In the middle of long races, runners may “hit the wall,” a point where they feel physically and emotionally spent. Quitting is a strong temptation. Don’t give up. God’s strength can sustain you.
• Strong finish. Just as athletes are crowned with victory wreaths and medals, God rewards those who persevere to the end.

Let perseverance finish its work in you!

See you in church,