Perseverance

She fell on the ski slope. When the results were known, Petra Majdic of Slovenia had five broken ribs and suffered a collapsed lung. Doctors discouraged her from continuing to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, but she was determined. Another qualifying race, then another, then a third place finish. She had to be assisted to the medal stand to receive her bronze medal. Most courageous athlete in these Vancouver games? The award should be hers hands down. Many Christians don’t have that kind of perseverance when it comes to demonstrating faith. A temporary set-back, a severe temptation, a troubling circumstance, and we get discouraged, forgetting that the Christian life is a mixture of enjoyment and endurance, “the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10). Life’s medals bring great joy, but with Jesus, life is about more than gold. We, like Him, must endure, “for the joy set before” (Heb. 12:2).

Join me this week in praying for these global concerns:
• Continue to pray for the hundreds of volunteers in the “More Than Gold” Winter Olympic ministry.
• Continue to pray for relief work in Haiti.
• Pray for an UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP, the Mari People Groups – Population: Unknown. The Republic of Mari El is a very swampy area located in European Russia.
• Pray for military Chaplains who serve on military installations around the globe.