Pressing Towards the Mark

Today, I’ve decided to approach my blog in a different fashion. Today, I want to encourage. As I look at my timeline, and talk to people who are close to me, I realize there are so many who are discouraged and are in need of different things in their lives’. These are the times when we need the most encouragement. Difficulties arise from time to time and can sometimes have the ability to cause us to become depressed, have anxiety, and even make decisions that go against the Will of God. I want to encourage you to press towards the mark. Here are some scriptures I stand on during these times:

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV) - “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This scripture truly empowers me when I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing that God’s power is made perfect in my weakness allows me to fully trust that God is helping me get through.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you mate mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I like to believe that any of us that cry out to the Lord have a strong desire to become better people. This scripture lets us know that there will be trials, but with each trial we will become stronger, and ultimately perfected.

Isaiah 61:3 (NLT) - “To all men in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise in instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” During the times we hurt the most, we must know that God is going to restore everything.

Psalm 121:1-8 – “I lift up my eyes toward the mountains—from where will my help come? My help is from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. He will never let your foot slip, nor will your guardian become drowsy. Look! The one who is guarding Israel never sleeps and does not take naps. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right side. The sun will not ravage you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil, preserving your life. The Lord will guard your goings and comings, from this time on and forever.” This psalm is full of goodies. God promises that He will always know what is going on with us. He will never let us fail. He will always guard our path. He will never sleep. So during your toughest times, don’t allow thoughts to creep in that want to convince you that you are doing it alone. You’re not. God does not promise that we will never go through things, because we live in a world that is full of hurt. But rest assured that you will come out victorious in the end.

And finally, Philippians 3:13-14 - “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Forget about what has happened, who has hurt you, and what you do not have. Continue to press forward in your journey with Christ. So often we want to give up. At that very moment God is turning things around.

Keep pressing towards the mark. Life has a funny, funny (extreme sarcasm) way of throwing in the unexpected. We are sometimes broken down so harshly that we even wonder if God is there. Is He even listening? He is. We have to find scriptures, prayer partners, or sometimes a book to encourage us through our toughest times. While I don’t like to give the enemy much credit, I do believe he has the power of suggestion. And when just a slight suggestion enters in- you’re going to fail, you’ll never get well, you will never find love- it will completely take us away from the mark.

As Dorothy and her companions pressed toward seeing the wizard of Oz in order to receive their greatest desires in spite of all of the obstacles they encountered, I encourage you to keep going. Pray, fast, cry, hug…do whatever you need to do to purge, but remain focused on the ultimate goal- being pleasing to God in order to be used for His glory.

Keep the faith.

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.