Monday, March 2, 2009

AT THE WELL...persistent to the end


PERSISTENCE
This is today's topic over AT THE WELL.

The discussion questions today are:
Think about your daily life as a wife, mother and child of God...

What are some ways that you have persisted when you have been knocked down?How have these circumstances brought glory to the Father?

YYYYY

One of my favorite stories from history is the story of how Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Before Edison could accomplish this great feat though, he had to endure hundreds of failures before perfecting his first light bulb.

Most people would have thrown in the towel long before the 100Th failed attempt, but Edison had such confidence in his ideas that he viewed failure not as a setback, but merely a stepping stone toward a greater goal. I have read that a young reporter once asked Thomas Edison the following:

"Mr. Edison, why do you keep trying to make light by using electricity when you have failed so many times?"

Edison simply replied, "Young man, don't you realize that I have not failed but successfully discovered six thousand ways that do not work!"

Talk about PERSISTENCE!
Another word I think of when I hear persistence is PERSEVERE.

EPHESIANS 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

I love these words of Paul in Ephesians. As a wife, mother, and a child of God - I have had to persevere in some things.

No matter what the difficulty, I have had to persevere ....

~in discouragement
~during sickness
~with financial struggles
~when needing wisdom
~dealing with teen issues
~experiencing death
~in my weakness

These (and more) have all been areas that without God, would have been easy to throw in the towel and be defeated. But (thank God) He has given me power to be an over comer. To keep my eyes on the prize. To stay focused on the goal.

PHILIPPIANS 3: 13,14 "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Jesus did not say life would be easy, but He did say that His "yoke is easy and His burden light" (found in Matthew 11:30). Don't try to persevere or be persistent in the worldly things without Him. If you fall down or fail ... get up, shake yourself off and keep trying. The prize is worth every effort!

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?
PERSEVERE TO THE VERY END!

PERSISTENCE is the topic over AT THE WELL today. We are all gathering today over there -please join us over at the At the Well homepage and see what others are saying today. If you would like to post to the questions ... why not join us, be sure to link your AT THE WELL post back to the homepage. CLICK HERE to find the chatter!

4 comments:

lori said...

Laurie,
THAT was wonderful...the Scripture referenced was perfect!What a thoughtful post...the PRIZE is worth ALL!

Persistently pursuing the prize!
peace,
lori

(now that's a lot of P's!)

Beth in NC said...

Great post Laurie! It is so funny how each of us writing on this topic used different scriptures.

God has definitely been faithful to bring all of us through many trials.

Bless you Friend!
Beth

Patty Wysong said...

Edison's example is such a good one! And it applies to our lives so well! Great post!

Unknown said...

My son and I studied Thomas Edison last year for school. He had amazing perseverance! I had forgotten about it until this morning. I think I will be using him as an example for my sons when they get discouraged and ready to give up and then tie that into scripture. Thanks!