PERSEVERANCE! Trusting God's Character!

UPDATE: The Winning the Battle excerpt will be next week - November 6th.

II PETER 1: 1-11

This needs to be a series all by itself. Every verse. This will be a preamble to that down the road.

Peter is writing about a very serious intent here. The intent would be to drive us to holiness. In today's world that is a huge chuck to absorb. I realize now, that when I started this book in January ("I Hate It When My Soul Is Crying!") it is really all about Perseverance. I want to connect with women and let them know we need extra supernatural amounts of Perseverance. We have all heard that word and yet, do we take understand what it means for us individually? So, what does it mean? Peter is telling us to be steadfast in everything we do. To have endurance in all life's trials, patience beyond all imagination?

Let us look specifically at verse 6: "And in (exercising) knowledge (develop) self control (develop) steadfastness (patience - endurance), and in (exercising) steadfastness (develop) godliness (piety)." Amplified version

NIV - "and to knowledge; self control; and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness;"

Putting that altogether, it says to me; Peter wants us to develop a trust for the character of God. The real question is: Can you hang on long enough to see Him work in your situation and life? Can you exercise, the knowledge and truth that God promises us his protection and deliverance? Can you exercise the self control it takes to endure through, believe and practice His peace for what is going on? All good questions. I talk to lots of people and 2011 has been a rough year. Everything from loss of work, to death, cancer, illnesses, political scares, weather phenomenons etc etc.

God's Word says He hears us. God's Word says, hang on I am coming. God's Word is the truth. So then, I need to take a big breath and TRUST that He goes before me, He marches with me. He never fails, forsakes, or leaves me (us). Endurance and Perseverance means I need to sit back, pray, and trust for His outcome. He never fails. He always loves, He always forgives, He always delivers.

What do you need deliverance from today? Lack of trust, too much fear, too impatient?

Let us look deeply into the character of God and see we can get through anything with Him.

comments can go to:
shirley.faith.souder@gmail.com