Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
~Harriet Beecher Stowe
Maybe you have heard that same thought expressed as:
Don’t quit or don’t give up before the miracle happens.
I like the sentiments of both of those quotes.
I also like the way Paul encourages the same thing.
we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)
One of my go to passages!
Substance abuse disorder does it’s best to get people to give up.
Give up on their dreams.
Give up on the potential.
Give up on their GOD given purpose and possibility.
And yet those who persevere, those who don’t give up and live to tell about it are such POWERFUL voices for recovery and powerful voices for the Kingdom.
Last night while in Dublin Ohio I was talking with a church community group who were committed to helping those they were serving to NEVER GIVE UP.
They were offering support.
They were offering prayer.
They were offering HOPE!
Many told stories of personal perseverance!
I walked away encouraged.
For often if those who are languishing in the mess of addiction; the challenges of chronic sin and struggle can be reminded that there is hope, that this will pass, that they can make it, to hang in there, miracles DO indeed happen.
I have seen it! I have shared in it.
An author once remarked…
When you get to your wits' end, you will find that God lives there.
That is so so true!
So, ask yourself today.
Do I need to keep going?
Do I need to keep things in perspective; to persevere?
Or
Is there someone around you who could use a word of encouragement, someone who is at the end of their rope that could benefit from you tying a knot in it for them?
I love you all!
OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE
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