Devotional – Perseverance

Devotional

Big picture It takes hard work, perseverance, and focus to finish well.

• Q: Have you ever tried something new but gave it up because it was too hard, or you weren’t good at it?
• Q: Have you ever dreamed about being a professional athlete? (or tell about your sports dream)
• If you want to be really good at a sport, you have to practice.
• And, the Teaching verse (Heb 12) says becoming good at anything in life (sports, chess, video games, work, etc) takes practice.
• You will need to stick with it even if it is hard.
• It takes training to be able to run faster, throw farther, and jump higher than you could before.
• Sticking with something like that is called perseverance.
• You need to be perseverant in life too, so that you can do what God wants you to do.
• Hebrews 12 commands each of us to “run with perseverance.” To work hard in all things.
• Q: Why do you think God is asking you to push yourself, to work hard at whatever you do?
• Is it because He is mad at you, or mean? No! He loves us more than even our parents!
• It’s because he knows us and wants the best for us. He knows sometimes we goof off or give up.
• Too often, we settle on what we want to do instead of doing what God wants us to do.
• He says don’t let those sins “that so easily entangle” you, cause you to choose laziness or to give up.
• We need reminders from Him that He will reward our perseverance, our hard work.
• Our rewards are many for hard work: being good at something, self-confidence, being a role model, but most of all God promises your life will go well, you will finish well, if you just listen to Him.
• Having perseverance is not easy. Getting better at whatever sport you choose is not easy.
• But there are many sports to try, and today we learned about a bunch of them.
• Remember: All sports have three things in common. Practice, Practice, Practice! Now go have fun!