That Incomparable P Word!

Blog ideas pop into my head all too often, so I have tons of them stowed away in various documents in my computer. Recently, I discovered an interesting entry made seven years ago - on the 27th of June 2016! Apparently, I'd finished reading four books in 24 hours! And yes, it is the complete unvarnished truth! 

For your information dear reader, these are the books:

1. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, 2. For all the Saints by Tom Wright,

3. An Infinite Journey by Andrew Davies, 4. You are my God by David Watson

Did I spend an entire 24 hours reading? Well … No! Grin! Try again! If like me, you read multiple books at a given time, you would have worked it out in an instant! Yes, I read several books simultaniously. I enjoy a Christian nonfiction book with my breakfast every day. (The three of us have breakfast at different times) Then there's an exciting novel I dip into with my lunch (home alone while my boys are at work)! I've a dozen books (or more) at my bedside table that I get into at night as my beloved and I read in bed together before we put our reading lights out. And … I also listen to audio books as I perform my many boring household chores.

And so, occasionally – I happen to reach the conclusion of a number of books on the same day! But … it actually means that I've taken weeks and months to read them. Yes, reading books does take time. And effort. And stick-to-it-iveness! It reminds of the P Word! Perseverance! It's a big one, isn't it? 

Listen to what Hebrews 12:1-2 says: "Therefore, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

The last seven years have been the toughest of my life, since God has been teaching me to abandon myself to Him in complete trust. I confess I am still learning - perhaps that's why this season is taking so long. The dictionary describes the word persevere: Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success. And that is why perseverance is so hard. We don't even know if we will make it.

If you, like me have been persevering through life's vicissitudes, take heart, dear friend. James, the brother of Jesus says. "Blessed is the he/she who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, he/she will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12. 

So perseverance is not just about undergoing suffering the right way! 

It's also about showing our love to Jesus by doing so. I find that so encouraging. There's a purpose to my pain!

Let me assure you that there are other P words that stand in solidarity with Perseverance. There's Presence – His Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, to help us persevere. There's Power – He gives power to the weak and increases the strength of the powerless. There Peace – His peace is ours as we trust and obey! There are Promises - the Bible is filled with them. They aid us to persevere, since we know that in Christ, victory is assured. Then … there's Plenty. Plenty of grace (sweet grace)! Plenty of love (in Jesus). Plenty of help (through His Spirit). Plenty of hope (when in despair). And Plenty of People who come alongside us to help us as we Persevere.

There's also Purpose to our Pain because persevering will have long term consequences … we become more like Jesus. There's Purity – we become pure and blameless as we persevere. So dear Persistent Precocious Friend, let's you and I continue to Please Him as we Persevere with Patience through life's Perplexing Prickly Pathways! One day we will be on the other side. And we will be glad we did. If you need my Prayers as you persevere … do not hesitate to reach out. Prayer is Powerful! Praise is too. And the Prince of Peace, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith is with us. So hang in there Precious Friend. You will make it. And I will too. And we will have the thrill of being transformed into Christ-likeness in the Process. Let's Persevere! A great cloud of witnesses cheer us on.

And we will make it one day to the finish line! Perfecto!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4