Page 8 - Good News August 2017 paper

n our journey as Christians, it Thank God twice daily for each of embrace the word "endurance".
is vital that we fill our hearts these 10 things as you begin your Paul wrote to his young disciple
Idaily with the encouragement day and before you go to bed. Say Timothy, "You therefore must
of God's Word. And though God out loud: "Lord, I thank you for…" endure hardship as a good soldier
has given us, in His Word, every- of Jesus Christ " (2 Timothy 2:3).
thing we need to overcome all Every time you think of something In other words, "Although endu-
discouragements, weaknesses, critical or negative, replace it with ring hardship is difficult, hold
sin, obstacles, and Satan's a thanksgiving item from the list. onto it, because through this you
attacks along the way, we Make sure that you do not will grow and improve on the
ourselves must take the respon- mention any of the negative inside."
sibility to apply them. Like the car things you are struggling with.
we drive, we must keep filling our Our mind automatically dwells on The best years of my life in terms
tank by following each instruc- negative things, blows small of developing as a leader, and the
tion; otherwise, we will not be problems out of proportion and most valuable lessons I learned,
able to survive emotionally and finds something critical in even happened when I worked with a
spiritually in the long run. Let us the good that is happening. That mission organization in northern
look at two of these important is why we need to have our list India. One of my leaders was next
instructions. ready, so that we can immediately to impossible to deal with. No able to say, "I ran the race well."
replace each discouraging matter what I did, he found fault Is it possible? Yes, it is! We have
1. GIVE THANKS IN ALL thought with a thankful one. with it. It was not easy at all to plenty of examples of those who
CIRCUMSTANCES endure. I felt like I died a thousand endured to the end. Whatever
1 Thessalonians 5:18 contains Continue to practice your giving deaths. But somehow my up- discouragements and difficul-
one of the most powerful instruc- of thanks for 21 days until it bringing and my instruction about ties we face right now, these are
tions for staying alive in our becomes a habit. You will find that discipleship called for staying on not the end of the world. They are
spiritual journey amidst adverse incredible changes will take place and not giving up. just temporary afflictions. And
circumstances: "In everything in your heart and your life as a God has already given us His
give thanks; for this is the will of result! IMAGINE THE MOMENT WHEN grace to win the victory. DON'T
God in Christ Jesus for you." YOU CROSS THE FINISH LINE! STOP; KEEP RUNNING THE
2. RUN THE RACE I encourage you to think often RACE!
A Christian counsellor helped his WITH ENDURANCE about how it's all going to end in [KP Yohannan - Founder and
clients apply this Scripture to The writer of Hebrews said, "Let 15, 20 or 50 years from now, when President of Gospel for Asia,
their difficult situations. And in us run with endurance the race your race is over. You should be SEND! Vol. 30, No. 3, 2010].
each case, the positive changes that is set before us" (Hebrews
were amazing! It is worth follow- 12:1). He was very much aware Mensekind
ing his application: that we are enlisted in a marathon jy hoef nie van
race that can only be won if we
Take a 3 x 5 card and write down have sufficient stamina to last the geestelike hongersnood
10 things you are grateful for in entire long distance. te sterf nie...
your difficulties - perhaps in your
workplace where your boss As Westerners, we suffer from JESUS
treats you unfairly; your service lack of endurance. Our society is Die Brood van die Lewe
in a ministry or church where you very fluid - people move frequent- het Homself
are not given the important ly and surveys show that 50 laat b-r-e-e-k
position you wanted; your percent of engaged couples think
marriage partner who has deeply at least once that if their marriage ter wille van jou
hurt or disappointed you; the son does not work out, they will have a sodat jy
or daughter who gives you so chance on a second one. in
much trouble; etc. geestelike oorvloed
It is much easier for us to change kan LEEF!!!
Even if you find it difficult, try in our feelings, walk away, close
hard. For example: I am grateful our hearts, become bitter or give © Huegene Venter
that I have a job; I am grateful that up instead of enduring for the
I have the privilege to serve the long haul.
Lord in at least a small fashion
and help win souls for His King- It is an uncommon thing to find - in
dom; I am grateful that my our society and in the Church - the
spouse did not walk away from "stickability", permanency, endu-
our marriage; I am grateful that rance and commitment in the face
my son is not on drugs; etc. of difficulty that the Bible talks
about when it comes to following
Put this card somewhere visible - Jesus.
in your Bible or your shirt pocket,
on the dashboard of your car or Especially if you are a young
near your computer screen. person, I encourage you to