Perseverance

To persevere is to continue in a state inspite of counter influences. Perseverance enables us to advance through trials and it qualifies us to inherit what God has promised us. Luke 5:17-20 says: �One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, �Friend, your sins are forgiven.� This story teaches us how the men persevered and refused to allow their surroundings to stop them from achieving what they wanted. The men were full of hope that their friend can be healed by Jesus; however, they realized that there was no way to get in all because the crowd had blocked the way. When it seems like there is no way, it does not mean that God has stopped working; He is still God and so you need to still persevere. The men therefore resolved to go through the roofing of the building where Jesus was. They let their sick friend down from the roof to where Jesus was sitting. Perseverance feeds on four things: Passion (the drive to move on), Possibility (you must know that what you want to achieve is possible), perspiration (Hard work) and persistence (determination). To persevere therefore, you must draw strength from God and trust Him to work a more glorious outcome for you. Always know that whatever situation you are in, will not disgrace you but is working for your glory. Just believe in God, persevere and never give up.