January 3rd

Hang in there. When things get hard this year, or you just get tired, pull this one out and read it again. Maybe you need to post it somewhere as a reminder for you this year.

Galatians 6:8-10 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

What kind of fruit do you want to reap this year? -So keep sowing to please the Spirit. It is so easy to become selfish but there is no room for that. We can’t sow to the flesh. Yes it can be tiring, and yes we have to take care of ourselves (spend time with the Lord, eat decent nutrition, get rest when we can, exercise/stay active,) but we are called to make sacrifices, we are called to walk in the Spirit, and when we do, He will give us rest and fuel. Most of us don’t run the risk of not getting enough to eat or enough rest or exercise due to being so busy helping others. If we are tired and overworked and underfed it is not usually due to something the Spirit has called us to do, it is usually our fault.

Having said that, I know it can be hard to stay motivated when we don’t see fruit from our labor right away. But we have the promise that we will reap a harvest at the proper time. We have to keep the long race in mind, this is not a sprint, it is an endurance race. We have to keep our eyes on the finish line.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We have a great multitude of believers who have gone to Heaven ahead of us and they have already gone through the trials we face (and worse.) Remember, Jesus Himself and the Holy Spirit, are cheering us on and praying for us/interceding for us continuously.

Hebrews 12:1-4 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he 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. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you and keep the whole race in mind so my perspective is correct. Help me to remember what you endured here just so I could be with you in Heaven. Give me the strength to persevere even when I don’t feel like it. Help me not to give up even when I don’t yet see the fruit. Remind me of your purpose for me. Thank you for running this race with me and help me to remember your boundless love for me. Give me opportunities to share that love with others along the way.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.