This week we concentrated on Ephesians 3: 1-13. It is getting harder and harder to pull out just one takeaway. But here is what impacted me this week:
So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here.
(verse 13a, NLT)
If we were to be truly honest with ourselves, it is so easy to lose heart.
“To lose heart” is defined as……”to give up; to give into trouble; to become exasperated by difficulty; to be defeated in spirit; to collapse in weariness.” (The New Testament Lexical Aids).
Basically, it is when the bottom falls out.
In reading this passage each morning this week, here is what I realized:
The enemy of our souls would have us to think, to believe and be convinced, that our situation is hopeless. Things will never change. He would tell us we are down for the count.
Don’t. Lose. Heart.
That’s our problem – we give up too soon. Just because we have not reaped the harvest YET does not mean it is not coming. It is just not the right time YET. Paul knew this would be our tendency and so he warns us further:
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, NLT).
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buq3GUihXgk&w=420&h=315]
Linking with Hello Mornings .
Seriously hard to take away just one thing, huh? So many great truths to apply to our lives!
Thanks for linking up!
It truly is a great study, Katie.
Oh my goodness, it sure is hard not to lose hope. Sometimes I just marvel at how weak I am. How does God put up with me? But you are right to see this kind of thinking as an attack, just where evil wants me to be.
There is always hope in the Lord, right? That’s where I have to be. Happiness because I’m trying, not so much because I’m winning.
Thank you for the encouragement today!
Ceil
Ceil – May we always keep on because He is our hope!
The enemy can be so conniving, can’t he?! I enjoyed reading your take-away and the beautiful reminder to keep on keeping on. Not losing heart here, either… By His grace! God bless! 🙂
“to become exasperated by difficulty” – yep that’s me – but I desire to fight daily, to press on, speak and believe God’s truth and hope in Christ alone. Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
Sandy – Difficulty is exasperating by nature. Our enemy designs it as such, specifically tailored for what will exasperate us personally. He’s good at it! Keep fighting! Keep pressing on! Have a great week!