Do You Have Someone Telling You To Not Lose Heart?

Do You Have Someone Telling You To Not Lose Heart?

Good Morning Friends,

When we experience the true purpose of Lent we need to keep focused on the goal and the hope of an astounding victory.  We will be tested like Jesus was during His 40 days and nights in the desert. Here we will be tested to determine if our tree will produce fruit. Here the testing of the cross will reveal our hearts. Friends, press on to the end zone…reach for the goal line. Believe you are not alone. So, Do You Have Someone Telling You To Not Lose Heart?

Scripture:¹⁰ do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV)

12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal;^* but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Beloved,^* I do not consider that I have made it my own;^* but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly^* call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:12-16 (NRSV)

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:12-15

Message:  God made each one of us for a purpose and wants to use each one of us in the game. He wishes to weave us into His plan of redemption. He wants us to live victorious lives. He wants us to have the heart of a champion. He want us to be determined to win. To gain the prize we must be dissatisfied when it comes to our own spiritual progress. We must submit to a life of being sanctified. We must not become satisfied and content nor debilitated with the past. We are not to compare ourselves to other Christians…we are to conform to His glorious image. This winning attitude requires devotion. It requires a clear, focused direction. Be determined. Do not quit. Do not turn back. Do not give in. Do not slow down. Press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Be disciplined…Do not lose heart. Jesus survived the experience in the wilderness with that purposeful attitude. We, too, will have wilderness experiences throughout our journey of faith. Don’t let these experiences throw you. Don’t let them discourage you. Examine the experiences and identify the things that are causing the problem. Deliberately lift up your soul to the Lord and be willing to follow his ways, be taught of His spirit, and to be consistent in your walk and choices. Press on to the goal of Christ.

Pray that in the race we look to the goal with faith. Pray we be without fear. Pray we believe Jesus is with us. Pray we not be dismayed or discouraged. Pray God will put all of our problems into a new perspective… that He will make our relationship with Him personal. Pray that He strengthen us. Pray that He will help us. Pray that He reveal His plan to us. Pray we never forget that He died on the cross, was resurrected and promises to never leave us alone. Pray we have a winning attitude. Pray we claim the prize of His promise.

Blessings,

John Lawson