TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JANUARY 26, 2015.
DETERMINATION
An unyielding perseverance to succeed or accomplish a purpose; firmness; resolve; a fixed purpose of intention, bringing about a positive result despite all obstacles; persistence.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11.
A simple definition of determination is not giving up. Much of what has been accomplished in the world was not accomplished by the most talented, or the most highly educated or those with the most material assets but by those with the most determination.
Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Apparently this was a concern that Paul had for the Christian’s in the church at Rome when he wrote them and instructed them to never be lacking in their zeal to serve the Lord. Our prayer every morning is to ask God for a strong determination, a fresh zeal to serve the Lord that day. We know that if we are not talking to the Lord every day our spiritual life will become lack-luster and dull.
The story is told of a student in the late 19th century, Mary McLeod Bethune. She spent two years training at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago to become a missionary in Africa. After she graduated, no mission board would take her as an African-American woman to serve under their mission.
Unable to fulfill her dream, and seemingly what was a calling from God, she did not give up because she was determined to serve Jesus. She went to Florida and started a small school for African-American girls here in America. God definitely had a different direction for her even though she was committed for years to go to the mission field. This small school because of her determination became Bethune-Cookman College and she became a powerful force for change in the status of women here in America.
Mary’s legacy came about because of her determination to serve her Lord. Her dream of going to Africa did not become a reality because God had something better for her. Her determination, to think big, allowed God to do His thing through her.
That kind of determination is not seen often enough today. People are satisfied with the status quo. Worse yet they seem to want everything given to them.
We as parents and as believers need to develop a new determination to give all that we have to serving the Lord. We need more believers outwardly serving Jesus. We need to stand for our faith and for the moral standards that God has given us in His Word.
We just saw a report as to how many Evangelical Christians voted last November in America in the last election. Only 18% voted and that is a disgrace. And then we as believers complain as to how our representatives in government vote. Just think if even 90% of Christians voted what could happen to America.
Not only here in America but the world needs people with a new and vibrant determination to do the impossible. With God all things are possible. Just think what might happen if we all took the challenge from Paul to serve the Lord with zeal and determination.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 7:7.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be open unto you.
Thank You, Lord, for my salvation that I have received by Your mercy and grace. Give me a new determination to serve You and honor You with my life. May the determination that You give me help me to lead my family, friends and neighbors to a relationship with You.
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