Endure Hardship

It’s so easy to be passionate about spiritual influences, but it takes a heart totally in love with Jesus to put feet in His footprints. It’s fun to be thrilled by spiritual successes, but difficult to walk in lock-step in the midst of hardship. Paul told Timothy to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). If a soldier is not willing to give up life, he or she has no business enlisting as a soldier. We are here to be totally loyal to Jesus, even unto death. Every emotion, every impulse, every thought, every energy must be in sync with God’s will and purpose. Hardships– adversities of life that are difficult to endure – are necessary parts of our existence. We can’t avoid them. Uncle Remus said, “You can’t run away from trouble. There ain’t no place that far.” An African Proverb says, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” So don’t run from this week’s hardships. Endure them.

Please join me this week in remembering the following global concerns:
• Pray for the volunteer team from Chattanooga, TN as they minister in Honduras from March 28th – April 4th.
• Pray for Carrie as she completes the last week of her radiation treatments in Vienna.
• Pray for Mary as she continues to study the Russian language.
• Pray for newly elected missionary leadership in Western Europe.