Stick To It

Well, we’re now three weeks into the new year. How many of you have already given up on your New Year resolutions? Right now, I’m happy to say that I’m still hanging in there, but it can be a challenge for sure.

It’s a daily choice whether we’re going to stick to our plans or whether we’re going to let the chaos of daily living steer us from our objectives. Some days (or most days if you’re like me) we’re going to be tired. Some days we’re going to be running behind schedule. Some days the weather may not be ideal. Some days something unexpected may arise.

You can come up with hundreds of reasons why you can’t follow through with your plans and goals and decide that, no, I’m not going to do that today. However, all you need to overcome this is one vital reason why you should, and cling to that when you struggle.

This goes far beyond a mere resolution made every December 31^st. It is relevant to every aspect of life, especially to our Christian walk. God has called each of us to live by His word, grow closer to Him, and to do His work.

Proverbs 13:4 tells us, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

This is not to say that you are lazy if you miss one Bible study or fall asleep before your nightly prayer or don’t get in a daily work-out. It just encourages us to be hard-working. Even though we fall short sometimes, what matters isn’t that we fail at times but that we don’t give up completely. Don’t stop pursing the things God’s is leading you toward just because you falter. Simply start over tomorrow and make that day a success.

I saw a video link on a friend’s social media page from the IF:Gathering in 2020, in which missionary Jill Briscoe was speaking. In the video she states, “And what we’ve got to do is go where we’re sent, stay where we’re put, unpack as if you’re never going to leave, and give what you’ve got, and He might move you on and you say it again. Maybe circumstances will move you on, but until you are moved to whatever, you give everything you have between your own two feet…”

That was a powerful message that struck me hard because in all honesty, I haven’t been doing that. I never considered myself a missionary for Christ because when I think about missionaries, I think of those who travel to some foreign land to spread the Word to those who have never heard it.

However, God has called all His people to missions and ministry, whether we move to another country or whether (like me) we still live in the same town we grew up in. The lost are everywhere, in every country, every state, every community, and dare I say it, in every church building. Our goal should be to reach those we can, right here where we are, using all the tools God has given us.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

In the same video referenced above (I encourage you to search for it online), Ms. Briscoe also wisely instructed, “…one of the students asked me, ‘Ms. Briscoe, where did you get your call to mission work? Where did you get your call to ministry?’ And I said, ‘I got saved.’”

It’s as simple as that: because we are saved, because we chose Jesus, this is the task set before us. “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,’” (Mark 16:15).

It’s often not easy or rewarding as the devil works hard to prevent us from reaching others for Christ. Many don’t want to hear what we have to say, and we can often be turned away or even scared away. It’s hard to continue with the plan when the results are negative or when we’re criticized or threatened, but God encourages us to stick to it.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me,” (Philippians 3:12).

True success doing God’s work takes self-sacrifice and a daily choice. Often, we must stop and remind ourselves of the reward that comes with diligence. When you’re not feeling motivated for Christ, remind yourself: I didn’t choose to give my life to Jesus because following Him would be easy or glamorous. Even though it’s hard, I’m going to do what I must because that is what God has told me to do, and that is what I signed up for. I chose to give my life to Him because He gave His life for me.

Seek God’s Input

Last Sunday, my pastor gave a sermon on decisions, and I guess I never really stopped to contemplate how many decisions I actually make in a day. When you think about it, we’re constantly making decisions, what to say or what to suppress, what to wear or not wear, what to do or refrain from doing, what to delegate or do ourselves, what to read, what to watch, what to listen to, what to eat…the list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming!

Some decisions seem trivial, such as what to do on a rare free evening, while others can be more significant and have lasting effects, such as changing jobs or beginning or ending relationships.

Making major life decisions can be stressful, and strong emotions often arise that negatively affect our ability to rationally think things through. If you’re like me, you don’t want to make the wrong choice, so I have at times put so much expectation on myself to not screw up that it consumes my thoughts and even my life.

My pastor wisely said, “Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.” Additionally, common advice is to “sleep on it, and then consider things tomorrow.” I don’t know about you, but making rash choices never benefited me.

When I’m struggling with an important decision, I sometimes forget that I don’t have to and shouldn’t make such choices alone. I have the greatest counselor always with me to help guide me.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you,” (John 14:26).

Have you ever been praying over an upcoming decision, and suddenly, you get this peaceful feeling in your heart and in your mind, and at that moment, you know with certainty what decision God wants you to make? That has been my experience when I consulted the Lord on decisions in my life.

Maybe that hasn’t quite been your experience. Maybe the Lord reaches out to you in other ways. However, He promises us that when we seek Him, He will be there. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

God wants us to seek Him in all that we do, and He will guide us where we need to be. We must then choose whether to follow that guidance or ignore it. I hope we choose well.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans,” (Proverbs 16:3).

Choose Courageously

Sometimes, we must make difficult decisions in life. Sometimes, our decisions aren’t popular ones although they may be best for the current circumstances.

Sometimes, the Lord may be calling us to do something we don’t really want to do. However, it is ultimately our decision whether to be faithful to His call or to turn our backs on that charge. It takes courage to do God’s will in our lives because the world coerces us to do otherwise, but when we lean on God, He can help us through our struggles.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

We can find many women in the Bible who were faced with tough decisions, but the story I’m highlighting today is of Abigail. You can read her account in 1 Samuel 25.

In this passage, David and his men were staying in the Desert of Paran while avoiding King Saul and awaiting God’s timing to appoint David as King of Israel. While in this area, David and his men helped protect the property and herds of a wealthy man named Nabal who lived nearby and were friendly to the man’s shepherds.

Abigail was Nabal’s wife, and they are described as follows: “She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings…” (1 Samuel 25:3).

David sent some of his men to ask Nabal for some food and supplies, but instead of being friendly in return, Nabal insulted them and sent them away. David did not take this well. He ordered two thirds of his men to arm themselves and then headed toward Nabal’s home with plans to kill every male there.

A servant went to Abigail to tell her what had transpired between Nabal and David’s men and warned her that David’s army was coming. Abigail was then faced with a decision.

Should she go to her husband and try to persuade him to change his mind and beg David’s pardon? Should she gather everyone she could and try to flee? Should she try to intervene with David and stop the killing of innocent lives? Should she do nothing? In his sermon, my pastor also reminded us that indecision is a decision, and it often stems from fear.

However, Abigail didn’t hesitate when she heard the news. She quickly had supplies and food prepared and loaded onto donkeys and went to intercept David and his army.

Facing the wrath of the future King of Israel and his army of 400 men, as well as the fury of her husband whom she was going against, Abigail courageously and humbly made her choice. She threw herself at David’s feet and apologized for her husband’s behavior, offered him the food and supplies she had brought, and begged David to reconsider his actions.

Knowing David served the Lord and that the Lord had plans to make David king, she didn’t want David’s hands soiled with the innocent blood of those who worked for her selfish husband. “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant,” (2 Samuel:30-31).

Through Abigail’s actions, David realized he was making a terrible decision. Therefore, he praised God for Abigail’s intervention, gladly accepted the gifts she had brought, and sent her home in peace.

The next morning, after sleeping off his drunkenness, Nabal listened to Abigail’s account of all that had happened and realized how close he had come to being killed by David’s army. Hearing this, the Bible tells us that Nabal’s heart failed him, and he died ten days later. After discovering this, David, who greatly respected Abigail, then made her his wife.

Nabal made a poor and callous decision that could have cost him his life. However, Abigail made the choice to do the right thing, even though it went against her husband. She didn’t argue with Nabal or nag him but just quietly did what she could to spare the lives of those in her household, and God blessed her for that decision.

Sometimes we must courageously step-up and do whatever is within our power to fulfill what God has placed on our hearts to do. Even if we must go against the wishes of those close to us, doing what is right is what the Lord calls us to do.

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin,” (James 4:17).

Have a blessed week!

-Becky