3 Ways We Can Train For Perseverance

 

Continuing my journey through the chronological Bible, I am finishing up the book of Hebrews with my follow-up post to yesterday’s, which listed 5 keys for perseverance from Hebrews 10. Today, Hebrews 12:1-3 will add 3 more.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him  endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

It has been interesting to learn through Hebrews, how my own choices affect my ability to persevere. As I have shared our family motto before (“You are either helping the family or hurting the family”), I am learning that when it comes to perseverance, I am either helping or hurting MYSELF.

Right away, I pick up on the “Let us” theme the author of Hebrews continues to use, as he explicitly suggests how believers can persevere in the faith. His whole intention is that they not give up, turning back to the Jewish faith from the gospel they had heard and believed. As life became challenging and persecution inevitable, it was tempting to look for the easier way- what they had always known before.  The Christian faith was harder than it looked, so the author set out to reinforce their faith with practical ways of understanding/application.

 

Do you know what that feels like?

The frustration of trying to continue, when all you feel like doing is lowering the standard?  

Taking the easier path?

Do you ever begin to doubt what all the effort is for anyway?

Whether it will be worth it in the end?

 

God wants to remind us through Hebrews that although the labor involved at times gets wearisome, the goal at the end will definitely be worth it! Share on X

 

Well, I know those feelings and so did the early believers. God wants to remind us through Hebrews that although the labor involved at times gets wearisome, the goal at the end will definitely be worth it! Our faithfulness will reap a far greater reward, not only for us but for God’s kingdom, than any cost we may need to endure. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

 

That is one of the many, great advantages of reading God’s Word on a regular basis. Scripture instructs us on the perspective we should have as much as it encourages and motivates us to heed it. God readily acknowledges the normalcy of feeling weary at times.  This is why He counters with the truth and practicality needed so we can continue on and NOT lose heart.

 

Here are 3 more keys for training to persevere.

1) Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

This has made me examine what hinders me MOST often, and you know what that is? My own self-will! In the last Bible study I taught, I examined how Jesus lived in peace when He was often experiencing trouble. What I learned was that Jesus being submissive to the Father was vital to Him living with such peace. This begs the comparison with perseverance. Why was Jesus enabled with fortitude and strength? He wasn’t living in all the frustration that we heap upon ourselves as we enter into a battle of the wills with God! I wear myself out because I am fighting for MY way to prevail! Who can ever outlast God?! Yet if I am honest, without really realizing it, I  butt against His will and ways all too often.

My determination to have “my way” be the prevailing plan is the very sin that is entangling me. Whether it is MY plan for how I should be, or my family, or community, or ministry, I am not the expert or boss. If I examine enough, I recognize that my weariness or losing heart is related to my fight for life to flow like I think it should. That is the Lord’s role and responsibility. He drove this point home to me yesterday when He used, yet again, Psalm 46:10. Yet this time He emphasized a different aspect than ever before.

Usually, He impresses upon me to “Be still or cease striving”, or “know”, this time it was, “Be still and know that I am God.”  If I will cease striving for my own will to be what controls life, submitting to God and how He wills and directs, then I will HAVE  the fortitude needed to persevere. I need to throw off my own tendencies to “manage” life and let God do what He does best anyway.  Becoming will-less    will greater reflect the peace and trust of Jesus in my life.

2) Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

A runner does not run with anything unnecessary, and certainly not with baggage. Yet how often am I getting weary because I am carrying past disappointments or future fears? By replaying what has gone wrong, causing me to worry what may yet go wrong today or in the future, I carry unnecessary baggage that I was never meant to carry. Just as God forgives and FORGETS my sin, so should I release the past that sheds doubt upon my future. I will feel stronger as I lighten my own load to run this race of faith, without the burden of pondering all that has gone wrong or may potentially go wrong. Also, remembering that it is a long distance race and not a sprint will help me pace myself. If I am “working” too hard, in the beginning, I will not have the endurance to last. I am learning whenever I am working that hard, I have ceased to abide anyway (John 15:1-8). Abiding is key to my persevering.

3) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. 

By focusing my attention on Christ and His example, I am able to set my stride, my path to His. Whenever I am feeling frustrated and weary, if I consider the life of Jesus and how it relates to my current circumstance, I will gain a better perspective so that I will be ABLE to endure and overcome. His role in my life is to mold and mature my faith. Therefore, I can trust Him to do His job. I don’t have to exhaust myself by getting hyper-focused on my own sanctification. I can no more pop out more fruit of the Spirit than if I tried with all my might.

All I am to do is fix my eyes on Him, following closely, seeking Him, and the fruit will bear indirectly. My “effort” is meant to listen and learn from Him, which will only increase my love for Him. He will produce the fruit Himself in me through the working of His Spirit.

 

God does not have impossible expectations for us. By looking to His Word, He shows us how we CAN outlast the demands of life, persevering like a well-trained athlete, perfectly conditioned by years of training. We will not be ones who grow weary and lose heart. No, we will be like our Savior, running for the joy set before us.