Do you ever awaken in the morning and think, "Another Day" to live through. Sometimes it may be the result of wearying trials or simply being human and wondering how you made it thus far and how far you have left to go. Many of us who know the Lord Jesus and his truth are able to quickly take hold of a familiar Bible verse and speak it to our minds and receive the encouragement and strength it brings. Other times, even the strongest Christian can view the beginning of a new day as a huge obstacle to encounter. We face it by taking a deep breath as if to say, "Here we go again". The inescapable trap of a new day can be overwhelming. There is only one way to escape life and that is by death. We are here until it is time that we are not. Our times are in God's hands. That brings me to the word "perseverance". The truth is, everyone is going through something every day. We have to fight hard some days and other days we are given rest. We are ALL going through life. We can choose to go through with or without the greatest help available, the ONE who conquered death and the grave. If we know Jesus, we know we also have an enemy. We know we must contend for the Faith. We know it is not easy but we know who goes before us to make a way. In a physical fight between two opponents, one may outweigh the other; be taller; even be stronger. However, if we are trained in the right fighting techniques, our enemy is doomed to defeat. We stand the victor every time. We who walk daily with the Lord and choose to step out into the ring of life to receive the overcomers crown are in constant training to develop those techniques. Jude 20&21 gives us instruction. "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." Luke 18:1 tells us the words of the Lord that we "ought always to pray and not lose heart". I want to continue to learn and practice every spiritual technique available to STAND at the end of my time here and as Ephesians the 6th chapter tells us "having done all to STAND." There can appear to be a dichotomy between STANDING according to the Bible and LOSING YOUR LIFE as we read in Luke chapter 17 but there is not according to the way of the Kingdom of God. The LIFE we are fighting for is ETERNAL. That is why the martyrs in the Book of Revelation and to this day, "Loved not their lives even unto death"! This is a sobering thought but it is happening, that is why it is so crucial that we learn to walk deeper in the Spirit as the days go by and take every opportunity to "Fight the Good Fight of Faith" with every spiritual weapon, wisdom, strategy, discernment, truth, fellowship, insight that is available to us. "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." 2 Peter 1:7 "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." Luke 17:37. Don't find yourself in the position of being a corpse with the vultures stealing your life. Through Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, we have LIFE and VICTORY. We can "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer" knowing that "He is able to keep us from falling and to present us before his glorious throne without fault and with great joy." So be it and come quickly Lord Jesus! The Spirit and the Bride say "Come" according to your WORD!
