Stay the Course

Devotional Contributor: Lynda Thrush

Acts 20:28 (TPT)  “So guard your hearts.  Be true shepherds over all the flock and feed them well.  Remember, it was the Holy Spirit who appointed you to guard and oversee the churches that belong to Jesus, the Anointed one…”  Acts 20;28 (TPT)

During the course of 2023 many of our Christian leaders were getting prophetic words that a major shaking would occur in the fall of 2023.  And we waited and watched and wondered and waited and watched and wondered and then it happened.  Our world was greatly shaken in many aspects from political shakings to international shakings with the war in Israel/Ukraine to financial shakings affecting many of you.  Even within your own families you may have experienced shakings which affected your health, your personal finances, your jobs, your families, to the point that we all wanted to cry out  “The Sky is falling, the Sky is falling” as quoted by Chicken Little in the English folktale.  And the spirit of fear began to take hold in so many people.  But those of us who walk in faith and in the power of Jesus know that the sky isn’t falling.

BUT - for those of us who walk with the Lord we need to hold the line, stay the course, persevere, be resilient, get back up when we stumble, be grounded in our salvation and our foundation built upon God’s word and in the power of the Lord. We need to rest in the promises given in the Bible. God wants us to be spiritually strong and has provided us with every resource we need.  

THEN - we must look for those opportunities to reach out to others and be an encourager and lift them up and help them find those same promises to which we cling. There are many who are hungry and seeking.

HOW - do we do that?  You might be someone who doesn’t get out of the house very often but you can be a powerful prayer warrior to pray for someone you know who is struggling with hopelessness.  You might be a grandparent who can text your grandchildren with a scripture or a message of hope to get through the day.  You can pick up your phone and call your neighbors; ask how they are doing and what can you be praying for in their situations? We can do so much with technology today that we never could do before.

Those of you who hold steady jobs most likely have ample opportunities on a daily basis. But you have to have your eyes and ears open, along with your heart, to take advantage of those conversations in the office and around the water cooler.  It’s a risk but take that chance.  You won’t regret it.  Someone is waiting for you to just open the door.

Even within the church we have hurting people that need help. Your heart may be nudged to give some money, make a meal, provide transportation to someone who doesn’t drive, make a house visit. You get the idea. There are so many ways to be an influencer, BUT you have to be willing.  Be creative and think outside the box. “ Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)

FINALLY, FOCUS ON WHAT IS UNCHANGING - I love the song - “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” SPEND more time with Him; less time watching the news and junk television. SPEND more time in God’s word; less time time reading a novel that you might forget its content within a short period of time. CLAIM and DECLARE those many promises that are waiting there for you. We need to be spiritually mature in our faith in order to help the babies who need food and encouragement from us.

Go for it - run that race and finish it well.  God is cheering you on!!!!  (Hebrews 12:1, Phil 2:13)