#Christian perseverance

[thinkingonscripture]

Victors Rather Than Victims

Last year, I unexpectedly found myself caught in the crossfire of work-related drama, which briefly disrupted my psychological and emotional state. It took me a few days to evaluate the situation, diagnose my mental state, and recalibrate my thinking to align with God’s Word. From there, I chose to live by divine wisdom and walk by faith rather than fear, to be a victor and not a victim. Though…

[iamentertainmentclub-blog]

Proverbs Daily Reflection – February 3, 2025

Good morning, and God bless you, my friends! I hope that your morning is fabulous! Wake up with praise on your lips as His air fills your lungs. Amen #josephmekaelpageministries

Proverbs 3:3-4 – The Courage of Black Soldiers in the Civil War “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” – Proverbs 3:3-4 (KJV) During the American Civil War, thousands of African Americans fought on the Union side. They were driven by the hope of…

[seekingtheosis]

Christian Perseverance through Faith - Advent Meditation on St. Luke 1:1-25

The post reflects on the annunciation to Zechariah, providing insights into the faith and struggle of Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Despite their childlessness and societal ridicule, they stayed true to their faith. The post underscores the transforma

A reflection on the Annunciation to Zechariah In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus The Christians around the world are gearing up for one their most important festivals which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger in Bethlehem. The weeks prior to the Feast of the Nativity…

[apenitentialprayer]

The desolation will certainly come. Prepare for it, not only by laying up a store of comfort, but also by laying up a store of strength to carry you through the dark hours of the storm. Train yourself now to a rule of life, to exactness in prayer, to good methods of performing your several duties, to patience and charity, so that when the storm breaks, you may gather in all your sails, pull your ship together, and hold on bravely and faithfully through darkness and dryness and disgust and despair. Fidelity is the great virtue of the time of desolation; fidelity to God, fidelity in faith, fidelity in hope, fidelity in charity, fidelity to your own good resolutions of the time of consolation, and fidelity to prayer, the sacraments, and all the outward helps of a holy life.

George Porter, S.J., future Archbishop of Bombay, in a letter to a young nun dated April 27th, 1882

[momentsbeforemass]

50% of God’s love

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

But none of that is really about the Divine Office. That stuff happens with every kind of prayer.

The good part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted. When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of My love, some of My grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God’s not looking for perfection. And prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings

[aparticularbandit]

Responding to this post as a separate post because I want to respond to something that I think is beyond the scope/intention of the original post (and honestly the scope/intention of the response in the linked post) but that, like.

I want to respond to it because it's been churning in my head.

Specifically the idea of the Protestant Work Ethic and trying to earn your way into heaven.

Because that's the very antithesis of what the Gospel is.

Over and over, it is made very clear that you cannot earn your way into heaven. (Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 are the ones that come immediately to mind, but there are more than that. (I also like - Romans 4 and the entire discussion about it being faith and not works and especially Romans 4:4-8.)) Literally one of the entire points is that you are stuck in your sin and you cannot get out and no matter what you do, you cannot earn your way in, but God loves you and chose you and wants you, so He paid your debt Himself (Jesus) and is giving you His righteousness - His perfection - because He was the only one who could earn His way in.

God is for you, not against you.

Are there things you should be doing? Yes. (Ephesians 2:10 talks about that, too.) But, like. It's not to earn your way in. It's out of love and gratefulness to the One who got you out of your horrible predicament? And then on top of that, made you a co-heir with Him?

Because it's...He paid for you to get in and then also you got adopted as a child of God? And someone described it once as good works after that being like when a child makes a drawing for their dad and their dad hangs it on the fridge? It's not to earn anything; it's because you love Him, too?

So, like - I want to know where the Protestant Work Ethic went wrong. Why so many people think it's about earning their way when it isn't that at all.

It's a gift. It was always a gift.

[alwaysrememberjesus]

Keep Going

[theheartslament]

"That his love never changes. That even in our darkest moments, He is in control and his goodness remains. That He is always able and that He works all things together for the good of those who love him. And this has always been enough to keep me going."

— Cafe Thoughts of Christ

[thelordismylightandmysalvation]

Verse of the Day - Hebrews 12:1

[karisumawrites]

Whenever you feel helpless, think of the things you know you can do for others.

[hiddenplacx]

[thinkingonscripture]

The Apostle Paul: A NT Example of Submission to God

A New Testament person who exemplifies living in submission to God is the Apostle Paul. Despite his weaknesses and failures, Paul’s life demonstrates steady submission to God’s will. His transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle of Christ illustrates this submission. Unlike most Christians, Paul surrendered to the Lord very shortly after his conversion on the road to…

[aspirant1598]

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but how do you know if you are just calling yourself Christian vs you actually are Christian? Especially if works do not play into it

Works do play into it, but they do not earn us our salvation. James 2 tells us that faith without works is dead. Galatians 5 tells us explicitly what the outward fruit of the Holy Spirit in a person is. So we know that if a person claims to be a Christian, yet lives a sinful worldly lifestyle, they probably are not a Christian (and necessarily never were). A.W. Tozer once said:

"The Holy Spirit never enters a man and then lets him live like the world. You can be sure of that."

The person who is actually Christian will feel conviction and true remorse for sin (rather than ignore it). They will love the law of God (rather than resent it). They will have rough patches (I consider myself in a bit of a rough patch at the moment because making myself sit down to read the Bible feels like pulling teeth), but the true Christian looks to Christ's life, death, and resurrection for their assurance of salvation, as well as their assurance of sanctification (the Holy Spirit's refining us in holiness). Baptism is a symbol of this covenant and a means of grace (though not of salvation), which is why John Calvin wrote:

"As often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our minds with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins." (Institutes, 4, xv, 3)

I find that much of assurance can be found in the healthy resignation Paul voices all throughout 1 Corinthians 15, but especially in verses 12-19 (emphasis mine):

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The Christian who feels she might not be a true Christian should look, not to her feelings, but to her faith in Christ. Is Christ able to save? If yes, she is saved. If no, then it doesn't matter.

[delightintheway]

Finishing the Race

It is the man who endures through the pain, And perseveres through every obstacle, Who finishes the race.

Yet the man who surrenders all to The Lord Will fly with eagle’s wings.

Source: https://www.thevolumesoftruth.com/Words_To_Live_By:_Part_One

Video (with voice over):

[momentsbeforemass]

Prayer isn’t a performance

(for someone who’s struggling in prayer)

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

The best part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted.

When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of my love, some of my grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God isn’t looking for perfection. Because prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings