DEVOTIONAL INSIGHTS & REFLECTIONS

Press On - January 8

Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap we faint not. ~Galatians 6:9

Sometimes when we hold a thing up to God for a long time and the answer does not come, our flesh wants to let go of the thing, stop, quit, take our rest.

Sometimes when we are actively doing God's word, we grow weary and our flesh wants to (and/or the enemy of our souls goads us... often through thoughts) to give up, quit, move on.

But God tells us, through the Apostle Paul: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." ~1 Corinthians 15:58

Let's press into God through prayer and meditation with courage and renewed vigor when we start to feel weary because the temptation to quit is a trial we must push through.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ~1 Peter 1:7

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (endurance/perseverance). ~1 James 1:3

We are not like those who shrink back...

…But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. ~Hebrews 10:38-39

And we are not overcome by evil, but we overcome evil with good.

…On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ~Romans 12:20-21 (If we do this, we demonstrate forgiveness.)

[The "heaping of burning coals on his head" is something often done (literally) in those days... They carried around coals of fire on their heads to light the way in the darkness.]

For faith without works is dead. (See James 2:26; Galatians 5:6; James 2:17; and James 2:20.)

…Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.… ~Galatians 5:24-26

Today, let us be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might by seeking Him through all of our trials and temptations so that we might persevere through the power of His strength working through us.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

Jesus loves you, this I know...