Don't give up!

I'm sure everyone has been at the point where they just wanted to give up; whether it was on something big or small, doesn't matter.  I'll be honest and say that I'm at a point like that right now, of wanting to give up on something.  I know that I shouldn't, but things have just become so hard in the said area that my flesh and my mind are just exhausted beyond imagination.  Trying to "keep face" about it seems pointless anymore.  I've finally discovered, I think, that I really can't change this situation on my own.  I've tried and nothing changes.  I've prayed about it, but nothing has really changed; but I think I figured out that, honestly, I've been saying the words but not putting forth the effort I know it will take to truly change things.  I've been trying to carry this on my own, and it hasn't been working.  I'm ready to give up.  I was reading my Bible tonight and I came across-- no, I couldn't have done it.  This was one of those times that God had to be guiding my fingers (if you've ever experienced that you know what I mean).  I landed on this passage in Hebrews tonight that I want to post.  I'm starting in the middle of chapter 11 and I'll end in one of the first few verses of chapter 12.  In case you're not familiar with it, chapter 11 of Hebrews has been "nicknamed" the "Hall of Faith."  It gives details on how Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and even Rahab were able to accomplish miracles through faith, just because they had faith.  I know this is a little lengthy, but I'd encourage you to read the whole thing:

"And what shall I more say?  for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection:  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, more-over of bonds and imprisonment:  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:  they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God, For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

After reading that, it was hard for me to not be encouraged!  It starts off by asking what more you need after all the Writer has already told you previously in the chapter.  It then tells you the types of things that have been accomplished by faith in the past, and tells you of more people that accomplished great works through faith.  This is my favorite part:  Every one of those people, who accomplished those unthinkable things through faith, is sitting in a cloud of witnesses as we speak, looking down on believers and encouraging them in our race down here. 

I've come out of reading this encouraged and, although I'm not looking forward to it, I know that I just can't give up on this.  I'm handing it over to God and trusting Him to take care of it; but I know that I have to do my part, too, and that I can handle whatever comes at me by doing that.  I'm encouraged knowing that there are people who are cheering for me right now, that want me to succeed. 

I'm not sure why I wanted to post this.  Maybe somebody needed to read this, too.  If so, I hope it encouraged you as much as it encouraged me!  Please keep me in your prayers; constant battle between my flesh and the Spirit going on inside me as we speak :) but I feel confident that I'll get through this.  Hopefully this won't be looked at as a pointless post-- if anything, it did help me to actually type this out!  If you take anything away from this, let it be this:  Don't give up!

Thought Provoker

What if today, God treated you the way you treat Him?

A thought for today.  Definitely has me thinking.

Evening Prayer from Psalm 4

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:  thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?  how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.  There be many that say, Who will show us any good?  LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:  for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4.

Laying up treasures

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -Matthew 6:19-21.

Where are you laying up treasures?  It can be so hard to lose focus on what is really important.  We try so hard to gain things on earth, when really those things will never matter.  We should be building up riches in Heaven, where everything is eternal and nothing ever changes.  I know that I struggle with this, with realizing that nothing I do here matters unless it is of eternal value; meaning that I shared Christ with someone, invited someone to church, or helped someone in need.  Even obeying parents and teachers is eternal; obeying the Bible will get you rewards in Heaven. 

Where is your heart?  If you have a deep passion for something that occupies much of your time, it is probably safe to say your heart is there.  I love blogging.  I do spend a lot of time on it, probably a little more than I should.  I could be using that time to read my Bible more and instead, I spend it on things that may or may not have eternal value.  Working on putting my heart on things Heavenly instead of things earthly.

The Secret Place of the Most High

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." -Psalm 91:1.

This verse is one of my favorites.  It just gives me chills!  Pretty self-explanatory, actually.  If you are dwelling in the secret place of the most High, in God's arms and praising in His gates, you will be in the shadow of the Almighty.  What a privilege it is just to even be in His shadow.  To be able to look up and always see Him right there, looking down at you.