When I hear the word "persevere" I have thoughts of trudging through thick mud, sweating, working hard, straining... I connote "persevere" with struggling, opposition and obstacles.

I seriously need to change my perspective.

Perseverance is an essential key to success. Whether you're facing backlash at work for decisions you are making or if excuses mount up against you continuing to better your life, YOU MUST PERSEVERE! Push through, my friend. Do not give up.

This past Sunday, February 15, 2015, a woman embodied perseverance like no one else. 29 year old Hyvon Ngetich was leading the pack at the Austin Marathon. With less than a mile to go, something happened to Ngetich. Her body shut down. She was running on empty. She collapsed. But she didn't give up. With eyes focused solely on the finish line, she crawled her way forward. You can watch the news reel from myFoxaustin and see her determination and HD like focus. She crossed the finish line coming in third. And when interviewed, Ngetich said she was coming back to win the 2016 Marathon.

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." [James 1:2-4 MSG]

The natural tendency is to get out of anything that is uncomfortable or painful. But James commands us "don't try to get out of anything prematurely." Perseverance has rewards. It develops us. It strengthens us. It deepens our faith and our understanding of God. The word says that we become mature if we persevere.

One thing I have found to help me push through is to FOCUS ON THE GOAL. Why am I doing what I am doing? If I am focused on the outcome, it makes it easier to trudge through the mud and mirk of doubters, of external and internal opposition.

When you have