Believe and achieve

This post will be short and, hopefully, sweet.

I am bombarded daily with pressure, from every possible angle, to succeed. Apart from Christ, and the peace that my faith in an Almighty and Sovereign God affords, I would likely have folded my hand and stopped playing the game long ago.

Fortunately, my friends, our Creator is faithful. He has provided every possible resource to us in this generation of unyielding pressure. The Bible, our church family, our brothers and sisters in the faith, our fellow warriors in God's army...most of all, the Holy Spirit Himself are here with us. The "cloud of witnesses" that Hebrews 12 speaks of, every single believer who has gone before us, they are all cheering you on. When you are sitting there, going through some trial, some struggle...the entire host of Heaven is spurring you on. All throughout scripture, we find so much evidence of God's love, care, compassion, purpose and plan for us.

Through every trial, whether in failure or success, God's sovereign plan is at work in our lives. Personally, I learn much more from the pain, regret and shame of failure. Failure causes me to re-assess my strategies, my purposes, motivations, ambitions, etc. I am gradually learning to thank God for the failures He allows me to experience, for they are great opportunities to grow and mature in the faith and life in general.

Here's some nuggets of truth to chew on for today and this week:

2 Tim 4: 7-8:

7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing

Matt. 25:22-24:

22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

1 Cor. 9:24-27:

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Gal. 5:7-8:

7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

Heb. 12:1-3:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Phil. 4:13:

13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

John 15:18-21:

18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

Job 11:15-16:

15 then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.

Psalm 20:7-9:

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!

Jer. 29:11:

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.



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Be blessed, my friends. Walk in His strength today.