Ephesians 1:15-23, part 2 - Getting knowledge right

Hi Ladies,

I hope that last week’s focus has made you more mindful of both our great need for and access to Spirit-filled wisdom as we seek to abide in Him. This week, we are just going to look at the big-picture goal of Paul's requests before looking at each one more in depth. 

In the bold section below, Paul prays that this Spirit-filled wisdom would result in knowing three specific things. Read the passage again:

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know 

what is the hope to which he has called you, 

what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, 

according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Eph. 1:15-23

Paul wants the Ephesians - and now us - to know some specific things. But the word for know here is not merely a knowing about. It implies understanding. And as we saw last week, this understanding comes only from having Spirit-opened hearts to see. Paul wants us to really understand and perceive the truth of these things: 

1) the hope to which GOD has called US
2) the riches of the glory of GOD’S glorious inheritance in the SAINTS
3) the immeasurable greatness of GOD’S power toward US who believe

Notice they all begin with God! Remember, our view of God is the most important thing about us, because it affects how we view everything else, especially ourselves. But we must keep these views in the right order. Who we are and what we have are only because of who He is and what He has given us!

- Do you define yourself in light of Christ?

- Do you view your possessions, both material and immaterial, in light of Christ?

If your answer to these questions is yes, praise Him for this gift! And keep praying. If Paul kept praying for it, we should too.

If your honest answer to either of these questions is no, ask the Lord to show you why that might be. Go back to that first part of the prayer… Father, enlighten the eyes of my heart! Enable me by Your Spirit to see things in light of who You are and what You have done for me.

Would you also pray this for one another this week? 

And if you are struggling to see this way, to believe this way, would you reach out to me or another sister in this family? God has gifted us to one another to help us in the journey. Let’s not neglect that gift. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

Ephesians 1:15-23, part 1

Hi Ladies,

How many of you got red ink in English class due to run-on sentences? If so, you’re not alone. The apostle Paul would have been right with you. 😄 

Did you know that after the brief greeting in Ephesians 1, the rest of the chapter is just two sentences in the original Greek?! Hence the complexity and richness of his long-sentence prayer from vv. 15-23. We’re going to take the next few weeks to meditate on and pray through it. I want you to read the whole prayer below:

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

We’re going to focus on the bold section this week. A few things to note before we get to Paul’s requests for this church body:

1) “For this reason” - when you see a connecting phrase like this (or others like “therefore,” “because,” “in light of,” etc.), ask yourself, What is it there for? Paul has just finished another rich (one-sentence!) expression of all that is ours in Christ (read vv. 3-14 to remind yourself). So, Paul’s prayer for them is motivated by incredible realities that they - and we - are prone to forget.

But notice what word comes next: “…because.” Is “for this reason” pointing backward or forward? Or both? Paul often seems to do both!
Let’s look at the forward reasons he now gives:

2) Paul had ministered in Ephesus for about 3 years, likely beginning about 10 years before writing this letter to them (Acts 19). So, as a faithful planter and pray-er, Paul had worked hard and then entrusted the results to the Lord. But he had recently heard that they were bearing fruit! And that knowledge motivated both this prayer as well as constant, gratitude-filled prayers for them. He highlights two connecting fruits: “faith in the Lord Jesus” and “love toward all the saints.” How do faith and love connect?

Can you picture a vibrant faith without love? Or can you imagine trying to love our brothers and sisters without understanding how or why? Vertical faith and horizontal love are inseparable. Read 1 Jn 3:23 if you’re not sure. And, pray that this would be true of us as well.

Now the main request: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.” Notice the triune involvement! This was demonstrated in his last long sentence as well. Paul had a robust understanding of our triune God. Do you? If not, what can you do to move toward that?

Why does he call God “the Father of glory”? I’ll let you determine that on your own. But I’ll give you a hint: “Context is king.” (A phrase I often heard in Bible college!)

Another question… (If you haven’t already gathered, always be asking questions of the Text!): If we already have the Spirit (v. 13), why pray that God would give us “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him?”
Greek doesn’t capitalize proper nouns like English does, so it’s not always clear which is which. Should it be (the Holy) Spirit or (our) spirit? Respected theologians have differing opinions, but in this case, the meaning doesn’t really change. Yes, at salvation we received as much of God’s Spirit as we get as believers… (pause and ponder that for a minute if you need to, and watch this LAB if you’d like to explore more)…

…but do we have complete wisdom and understanding in our knowledge of God? (The easiest question yet!!) That’s why we’re commanded over and over to get wisdom, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, to keep saturating our minds with the truth, and to continuously cry with Paul, “that I may know Him!” (Phil. 3:10)

And this is only possible by God’s Spirit enabling our spirit, enlightening the eyes of our hearts, to know Him more fully as He has revealed Himself, and then to live in light of that knowledge. There is a physical seeing and a spiritual; a physical hearing and a spiritual. Sadly, many “see” but do not see, and “hear” but do not hear (Mt. 13:13). Wisdom is being able to apply knowledge to life. And we need supernatural help for both knowing and applying. So we should pray for one another consistently, that God would grant us by His Spirit in us to grow in our understanding of the incredible realities of our God and then to live in light of them…

“So that we may know…” and Paul highlights three things. But that’s for next week!

Thanks for hanging with me. This email offers some study tips in addition to a prayer focus that I pray will be helpful in your pursuit of abiding in Him. ❤️🙏

Anna

A repeated word from a different mouth - James 1:2-4

Hi Ladies,

Have you ever told someone something (maybe a repeated something!), and they just don't seem to get it? Then, one day you hear them say, "So-and-so said this to me, and it really stuck." And you think to yourself, That's exactly what I was trying to tell you!

There is a lot of value in multiple voices speaking similar words of truth and encouragement. And praise the Lord for many like-minded saints who are doing that, both within our church family and beyond! This week, I want to share a "same-but-different" with you on a topic we've talked about a lot over the years. But I hope that hearing it from someone else will maybe help it stick even better. 😊❤️🙏 So, enjoy this devotional on James 1:2-4 from Paul Tautges, a pastor, counselor and gifted writer:

                                  Your Faith Muscle Needs Exercise

“Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

In Trusting God, Jerry Bridges describes the physical exertion of the Cecropia moth as it exits its cocoon. He then tells the story of a sympathetic viewer who snipped the shell of a cocoon to free a struggling moth. What this person did not understand “was that the struggle to emerge from the cocoon was an essential part of developing the muscle system of the moth’s body and pushing the body fluids out into the wings to expand them. By unwisely seeking to cut short the moth’s struggle, the watcher had actually crippled the moth and doomed its existence.”[1]

Such is the case with the muscle of our faith. If we habitually seek to escape from all painful trials rather than joyfully submitting to them as part of God’s endurance-building program, we may forgo opportunities to have our faith muscles exercised and strengthened.

The Struggle That Strengthens Faith

James 1:2-4 teaches us that knowing the goal of suffering is an important part of being able to “count it all joy” when we encounter “trials of various kinds.” God tests our faith to produce steadfastness, or endurance. The word steadfastness comes from a compound word meaning “to stay under,” “abide,” or “remain.” It is the picture of someone who has been carrying a heavy load for a long time, remaining under its weight instead of seeking to cast it off. Similarly, endurance develops when we remain under a trial while resisting the temptation to run from it. As we stay in our trials, our faith is strengthened. As Kent Hughes says, “The more tests we pass, the tougher we become.”[2]

Staying Under, Not Running Away

God’s good purpose will often be accomplished as we humbly submit to our trials. God may remove the trial when we have learned what it was sent to teach us, or it may be His will for us to remain under it indefinitely.[3] As we mature in Christ, we learn to remain under our trials until God lifts them or accomplishes their character-building purpose.

When suffering comes your way, you have two basic choices: you can choose to persevere under trial and grow in endurance, or you can run from pain and be robbed of growth. One way you gain; the other way you lose. If you decide you have had enough pressure and develop the habit of running from all trials, you will short-circuit the process of your own spiritual maturity.

From Steadfastness to Christlike Maturity

Steadfastness, as virtuous as it is, is not God’s final goal. God does not want you merely to endure but to endure with joy—knowing His goal is to make you “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God’s goal is to bring you to the finish line, whole and mature.

Spiritual maturity is what God is after in our trials. And if you want to know what spiritual maturity looks like, look at Jesus. You can be joyful in the midst of suffering when you know and embrace God’s good purpose to develop your faith muscles in such a way that you reflect Christ.

Questions for Reflection

     1. Ask yourself, “Where am I currently tempted to ‘snip the cocoon’ and escape a hard situation instead of asking God to use it to strengthen my faith?”
     2. How have your former trials, in hindsight, grown the muscle of your faith and made you more like Christ?
     3. What would it look like today to remain under your present trial with joy, trusting that God is aiming at making you “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”?

Editor’s Note: This article is a chapter excerpt from Remade: Embracing Your Complete Identity in Christ by Paul Tautges (P&R Publishing, 2023).

[1] Jerry Bridges, Trusting God (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1988), 173–74.

[2] R. Kent Hughes, James: Faith That Works (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991), 19.

[3] In the course of applying biblical wisdom, we may discern that God is leading us in another direction. For example, Proverbs 22:3 teaches that “the prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Generally speaking, however, it is healthy for us to avoid falling into escapist patterns.

Source: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2026/08/12/your-faith-muscle-needs-exercise

Praying Col. 4:12, part 2 - Standing mature and fully assured

Hi Ladies,

Last week, after meditating on Colossians 4:12 and trying to articulate its richness, I realized that there was just too much to fit into one devotional. 🙂 So, we continue this week…

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” 

Last week, we looked at Epaphras’s zealous commitment to prayer. His prayers were not half-hearted prayers, nor were they “in passing” prayers. They were fervent and ongoing. But what were these struggle-infused prayers for? 

“That you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

Notice his desire that they stand. The original word means “to not hesitate or waver; to stand fast.” Can you picture a soldier armed and ready to fight, with his feet braced firmly on the ground? Whatever Epaphras is praying for, he wants them firmly anchored in it. But what is it?

He first prays that they would stand mature. Some translations say “perfect”; some say “complete.” It’s the Greek word teleios, which we’ve looked at before. It can mean “fully developed” or “brought to completion” or “lacking in nothing.” Here, it seems that Epaphras is echoing Paul’s similar, passionate desire found in chapter 1: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). 

This maturity will not reach absolute completion until our earthly sanctification is over and we stand glorified in the Lord’s presence. But it is something that we are striving by grace to live toward more and more each day that we are given on earth. 

We do not drift into holiness. 

We do not achieve Christlikeness simply because of the number of days or years we have been saved. 

It takes work. Spirit-fueled work. And both Paul and Epaphras understood the essentialness of prayer toward this end. 

How about you? Do you pray for your sisters and brothers in Christ to remain steadfast in their faith, not wavering, but continuing to progress all the way to completion? 

Epaphras adds one more request: that they stand fully assured in all the will of God. “Fully assured” is a beautiful compound word in Greek that here means fully persuaded or convinced. He wanted them to be absolutely sold on something. And that something was the will of God. 

“Oh, the elusive will of God!,” you might think. “I wish I could be absolutely certain of it!” But if Epaphras is praying for this (and not just assurance of some of God’s will, but all), perhaps we have an inaccurate (or lazy) view of God’s will. I know I have struggled with this. I just want God to send the clear lightning bolts and tell me all the right answers to all of life’s decisions! 

But Ladies, God has given us His will, laid out perfectly in the pages of His revelation to us. Beyond the clear “this is the will of God” statements, Peter writes that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). All the principles we need to be who He wants us to be, and to do what He wants us to do, are found in His Word. 

Yes, this takes work! We must learn them - studying God's Word and sitting under the preaching of His Word. And then we must live out what we know, applying His Word to our lives in daily dependence on the Spirit. But we have it! And Epaphras is continually struggling in prayer that these believers stand confident in it all. 

Did you notice the double emphasis? He’s not only praying that they come to know all of God’s will, but also that they will be convinced that it is best! 

How about you? As you pray for your brothers and sisters, do you pray both for knowledge and for assurance of it? 

We have a wonderful model here to pray for one another this week and beyond. God, would You empower us to stand fast together ‘til the end? And would You grow us not only in our awareness of what You desire of us, but also in our joyful certainty of Your sovereign goodness in it all? 

Let’s be a church family who labors in prayer together for these things, and then lives it out by His amazing grace! 

❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

A powerful wrestling (Col. 4:12)

Hi Ladies,

When was the last time you wrestled? 

Not that kind of wrestling… although some of you moms of little boys might have a recent memory! I’m talking about wrestling in prayer. 

I could be wrong, but I don't think many of us are very experienced with this. We pray, but they are “neat and tidy” prayers, or “safe” prayers. Perhaps we’re not sure exactly how to pray, so we stick to phrases we’ve heard from others. Maybe we’re concerned that we’ll say the wrong thing and offend God. Or maybe we have a pious view of prayer that doesn’t leave much room for emotion. Or maybe we think, “If God knows everything at all times, why do I need to ask, keep on asking, ask with fervency?”

There are probably as many reasons for our lack of wrestling as there are readers of this right now. And my goal is not to tell you why you don’t, but to 1) show you a motivating model, and 2) encourage you to identify your own reason(s) and work by grace to overcome it so you can become a model as well. 

First, we see examples all over Scripture of people wrestling or struggling in prayer. A most vivid example is Jacob who actually, physically wrestled with “a man” of whom he said, “I have seen God face to face” (Gen. 32:22-32). Hannah wrestled in prayer with so much passion that Eli the priest thought she was drunk (1 Sam. 1:1-20). Job groaned, the psalmists lamented, kings fasted, the prophets pleaded. 

Then we come to the New Testament: Simeon (Lk. 2:25), Anna (Lk. 2:36), the Syrophoenician woman (Mk. 7:24-30), Paul (2 Cor. 12:7-9). And sweating, like great drops of blood? Christ Himself knows what it means to wrestle in prayer (Lk. 22:44). 

But I especially love an example we see in Colossians 4. Paul is concluding his letter by sending greetings to this church body, and he says this: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God" (Col. 4:12).

"Always struggling on your behalf in his prayers" - The Greek word for “struggling” is agōnizomai. This probably reminds you of our own English word agonizing. It carries the idea of laboring fervently with strenuous zeal. This dear brother had committed not only his life to sharing Christ with these people (Col. 1:7), but also his prayers. Do we pray with such commitment for our Family? 

What was he praying for? That they would "stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God." This is too rich to unpack this week, so we'll look at it more next week. But for now, I just want you to notice the essence of the requests. How do our requests for one another compare? 

Finally, I encourage you to spend some time this week thinking about what might be hindering your own wrestling or struggling in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you. He wants you continually coming to Him, casting your cares, confessing your sins, fighting your doubts, interceding for your brothers and sisters, pleading His promises. So, He will show you!

Let's pray for one another this week, that the Lord would teach us and free us to pray like this, especially for one another.

Learning what it means to struggle on your behalf in my prayers is such a joyful privilege. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

For the new and experienced: Why we do brunches

Hi Ladies,

I know this comes a day early, but I like to periodically remind us (and explain for those of you who are new!) of the overarching vision for the women of ABC:

Our desire is that after ongoing involvement in ABC’s women’s ministry, each woman can look back and say that she has “feasted” - not only on rich foods, though we have that too! But most importantly on the spiritual food of fellowship, edification, accountability, service, teaching/equipping, evangelizing and discipleship.

Maybe you ask, Why feast?
Because God created us for it!
We were designed with longing for satisfaction. Because we live in a broken world, we often look for it in the wrong places. But His goal is that we find our greatest satisfaction in Him. This is not self-serving but rather the most loving thing He can do, because it is the very thing that is best for us. His glory IS our greatest good! So, in all our feasting, we are seeking to deepen our satisfaction in Him.  

Our brunches certainly do this, as they hit on several of these focuses. It is such a joy to gather for good fellowship, as we spend the first hour communing over yummy food, thanks to all of you. Beyond that, each brunch is a special opportunity to hear about God’s grace in the life (or lives) of your sister(s) in the Body. And His Spirit takes these words and edifies and equips and convicts and much more as we listen and respond. This not only results in deepened relationships with one another, but also greater praise of God’s creative and powerful work!

So, I hope that you will prayerfully consider joining us tomorrow. Even if you can’t, please be praying for our time together, and especially for Kristie Erickson as she shares with us. May the Spirit work in and through her tomorrow, and in each of us, to fill us to overflowing… for His glory and our good! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

Fall Bible Study

Hi Ladies,

Summer is not over, but we’re planning for the fall! I’m excited to share that we will be offering a 10-week, video-based Bible study through the book of Joshua, and we’ll have two meeting times available:

Option 1: Tuesday mornings from 10am-12pm at the home of Laura Moore (13414 King Mill Pike, Bristol, VA 24202)

Option 2: Wednesday evenings from 6:20-8pm at Abingdon Bible Church (room TBD)

We will begin Sept. 15/16 and finish up Nov. 17/18 (the week before Thanksgiving)

Please contact me, or Laura (276-608-5823) by August 30 in order to pre-order books. Cost is $20 for book (includes video access). 

I encourage you to watch this preview video: 

https://youtu.be/fu96gnmviqk?is=cGTxrRnDLHT8G0c1

I’m eager to grow in our knowledge of and love for our God together, and I hope you will prayerfully consider being a part of this! 

Anna 

James and Teabags

Hi Ladies,

Do you resonate with any of these statements?

“I don’t struggle with anger, but whenever I’m around so-and-so, I become a different person!”

“She/he knows just how to push my buttons.”

“If I just didn’t have to interact with [fill in the blank], I’d be a lot more Christlike!”

“He/she did this, and so I couldn’t help but….”

We live in a sin-cursed world. It has infected everything, and everyone. Have you ever heard someone say, “Ministry would be a lot easier if it weren’t for people!”? Despite it being tongue-in-cheek, it’s true. Ministry is hard because it involves people.

But the hardship is not just them. No matter how godly and “balanced” you think you are (or I think I am), you and I are part of the problem. All those statements above that you had names for? Well, you might be the very one in mind for others. (“Surely not!” our inner lawyer rebuts.)

This is humbling. And that is good. 

James 4:1 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” 

Throughout the end of chapter 3 and all throughout 4, James is showing his readers all the yucky fruits that stem from a heart of pride. And in this particular verse, he highlights our selfish desires. We are really good at convincing ourselves of the rightness of our thoughts, our ideas, our plans….

“It’s the most logical.” 

“It feels right!” 

“It’s the easiest option.” 

“It’s what I’ve always done!” 

I wish I could say that the Spirit prompted me to write this for you. But I think He probably did so for me. 😊 And yet if I need it, then hopefully some of you can benefit from it too. 

The first step is to recognize the problem. Someone once gave this analogy, and it has been incredibly helpful for me: 

You and I are teabags. 

From the outside, we can look like we’ve got everything together. But as soon as we are put into hot water, everything inside comes out…the good, the bad and the ugly. The people we want to blame? They are simply the hot water. They didn’t make us sin; they simply drew out what was already in our hearts. 

The second step is to remember the power. Maybe that person did sin against you. (Remember, in case you forgot… we are all sinners!) However, no one else’s sin causes you to sin. If you are indwelt by the Spirit, you have everything you need to respond as Christ would. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Believe me, I know! But as you continue day-by-day to saturate yourself in the Word and live in prayerful dependence on our Triune God (think, abide!), He will equip you to live as He has created and called you to live.

And when we fail, repent. Remember, with Him there is forgiveness and plentiful redemption. (Ps. 130:3-7) 

If God - the perfect Creator-Father - is this merciful toward His children, how much more should we be toward our imperfect brothers and sisters in Him. If we have sinned against someone, let’s be quick to own it and repent. And if we have been on the receiving end, let’s be quick to forbear or forgive.

Can we pray these things for one another (and ourselves) this week? We need it. I need it! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

More than words (Col. 3:12-16)

Hi Ladies,

Wasn’t it great to be back in Proverbs, and James for those of you in our summer study? Words, words, everywhere!

But I keep being confronted with something significant. It’s not all about words. Maybe you already know this, but it’s easy to overlook. At least it has been for me. What do I mean? 

Picture this: a brand new car - shiny, sleek, clean, and fast. At least, potentially. Problem is, the fuel line is broken. This picturesque car is powerless to do what it was designed to do. It must have its needed fuel. 

Similarly, God has designed us - crafted us as His image-bearers - to speak words of life, of truth, of love. But we are powerless to do so without the Spirit’s “fuel.” 

How do we make sure this fuel is flowing? The Bible tells us that if anyone is in Christ, he is “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). We have His Spirit from the moment we believe (1 Cor. 12:13, Rom. 8:9, Eph. 1:13-14). And yet, we all know that life-giving words don’t naturally spill out every time we’re bumped! So, what’s missing? 

Rather than something “missing,” I think it’s more accurate to think of it as what some have called spiritual amnesia. We forget who we are in Christ.  Our "fuel line" is clogged. And so we stop working to become practically who God has already made us positionally. Sanctification takes work! It’s fueled by the Spirit, but it requires our submission and our obedience. Let me show you this from Col. 3:12-16:

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…”

I want to highlight two things from this passage: 

First, notice who Paul is addressing: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.... Forgiven.... Called.” Positionally, they’re His - called and forgiven - they’re holy, and they are fully loved. But Paul doesn’t stop there. This position necessitates “putting on” characteristics that mark God's people. In other words, they - and we - are called to live out practically who He has created us to be positionally (in Him). 

Second, notice the focus on character. Read through it again. The first 10 characteristics are all about our hearts! Only when we get to verse 16 do we read anything about words. And first, we let His Word dwell in us. Then, and only then, after all this putting on and “being” (abiding!) does Paul address our words: “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.” 

Ladies, this is so significant! Our words are the overflow of our hearts. This is why Paul focuses so much on who we are to be before what we are to speak. 

Words are critical. But if we don’t begin with our hearts - if we don’t have Spirit-fuel flowing to the engine - we will not run as God designed us to. 

And the glorious news is that we have all we need in Christ - His Spirit’s power in us - to be rightly fueled! So don’t resist the hard work. Be grateful for His power, and His patience, and His forgiveness when we fail and get clogged and have to repent and try again, and again. 

And praise Him for a Body to spur one another on in this! Let’s pray for one another and encourage one another this week not to forget who we are and what we have in Christ by the Spirit. And let's not resist the Spirit's work (even when hard!) to increasingly conform our hearts to Christ's so that we overflow with His words - words of life, of truth, of love. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

2026 Halfway Check-up

Hi Ladies,

Happy halfway through 2026!! It’s fitting that we rehearse and check up on our goals for this year as a women’s ministry. The Lord clearly directed us to focus on abiding in Him, and aren’t you so grateful? It’s been a needed study and wonderful blessing for me personally, and I trust for you too. But since it’s easy to forget, I wanted to take this week to remind us all of some of the key truths.

To abide means to remain, to dwell, to stay, to continue. To do that in Christ is possible for all believers since we are placed in Christ - united to Him - at the very moment of salvation. Our union with Him is fixed, and it can never be broken. Praise Him! But our communion with Him takes work, as we all know…both from Scripture and from experience!

Scripture tells us to abide (to remain, dwell, stay, continue):

- in Christ (John 15:4; 1 John 2:28)

- in His Word/commandments (John 8:31, 15:7; 1 John 2:24)

- in love (John 15:9; 1 John 4:16)

And these three are not unrelated. In fact, the passages demonstrate that they are different ways of referring to the same thing. (We looked at this in our study of John 15:1-11 earlier in the year). So what does this look like practically? Or better yet, how can we check up on ourselves to see if we are progressing in this goal this year? 

Here are a few questions to prayerfully think through. I’m praying that these will both encourage and exhort us toward more through the rest of 2026, and beyond! 

- Am I quicker to filter things I hear and think through what I know about my God? 

- Am I more at peace, even if things around me are stormy? 

- Am I able to speak truth more readily? (Either to myself or others?) 

- Do I have increasing capacity and desire to love others, especially those who are harder to love? 

- Am I seeing His strength shine through me more, even in my weakness? 

This list is not exhaustive. And it is not designed to condemn. Our God is so incredibly patient with us. And He has given us everything we need to do what He desires us to. We just need to remind ourselves of this frequently, and then act on it! 

So this email is a check-up for us all. We are here to spur one another on in this great goal. Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would not grow weary in this eternally worthwhile pursuit, and let’s find ways to help each other stay the course. 

Perhaps you could ask or share with someone how things are going in this area! I need you. We need each other. Let’s continue to abide, together. For His glory, and our good! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

Praying for wisdom to see (James 1:5)

Hi Ladies,

Since not all of you are able to join in the James study this summer, I thought I’d take this week to share some gleanings from the dig. 🙂 

Have you ever heard James referred to as “the New Testament Proverbs”? While the letter does seem to take more of a wisdom-literature approach than the other New Testament books, I’m seeing that James writes with a more cohesive thought than I first realized. Some of its well-known verses have significant context to them. 

For example, how many times have you seen or heard this verse quoted?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

We know from the rest of Scripture that wisdom comes from God (Pr. 2:6-7), that Christ is Wisdom incarnate (1 Cor. 1:30), and that asking for wisdom is right and good (1 Kgs 3:9, Pr. 2:1, Ps. 119:66, Eph. 1:17). So this verse from James can stand alone. But we miss a lot without the context! Look at what precedes verse 5:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom…”

James begins chapter 1 championing steadfastness (vv. 3-4), highlights it again in v. 12, and concludes the chapter with a synonym (perseveres) in. v. 25… not to mention all the occurrences in chapter 5. It’s definitely a theme! 

Here he tells us to consider it a joyful thing when we fall into trials, since we have confidence that God is using them to prove and strengthen our faith. This “worked out” faith is one that can endure longer and longer under pressure. That’s the literal meaning of the Greek word for steadfast (hypomeno…remember that word?!). The final result - the end of sanctification - is our being perfect, complete, whole, lacking in nothing. (Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?) We know that we won’t arrive at this until we are glorified. But God’s good design and plan for our lives is to work in and through the trials to make us more and more like who He created us to be. 

This is God’s perspective. And James tells his readers (including us) this perspective. He could have followed this with something blunt like, “That’s what’s coming, but boy, you all sure lack a lot now!” But, he didn’t. He gently rolled on with something to the effect of, “If any of you lacks wisdom to understand this perspective, then just ask Him…” 

This wisdom James tells us to ask for is not simply about what to do or what to say or where to go…. It’s a wisdom to see life (and particularly the hard parts…which are many) from God’s perspective: designed by a sovereignly good God to make us more like His Son; and then the grace to live in light of it. 

Is it easy to see life this way? No. 

Is it possible? Yes. 

How? Because we have access to the One who tells us to. He bids us come and ask! And not only does He promise to grant it, but He does so generously, liberally, without holding back, and without looking down on us for asking. He delights in hearing from His children and helping us see His glory and goodness. 

Isn’t that amazing?!

If you are struggling to see the hardship you are enduring as a good thing, get on your knees (literally or spiritually), and cry out to Your Father. Ask Him to help you see life as He does. Ask Him for grace to trust His ways. Ask Him to make you more and more steadfast through the pain. And ask Him to give you the resolve to consider the process joy, since you know not only what He is accomplishing now, but also the glorious end to come. 

I promise it will be worth it all, Sisters! 

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would live this out more and more, so that we might be steadfast women, full of joy in Him! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

P.S. Come pray this for one another at our prayer gathering tomorrow at 6pm! 

Christ our Wisdom

Hi Ladies,

I’ve been wanting to share some thoughts on wisdom with you from our ladies’ James study! But before I do, I believe it would be helpful for us to meditate on the lyrics to “Christ our Wisdom.” Kevin introduced this song to us last Sunday, and it fits so well with our study through Proverbs (and James!). 

So, can I encourage you to read the lyrics below, and perhaps write them out or add the song to your playlist this week? 

Christ our wisdom, we are humbled
When You hide Your ways from us.
You have purposes unnumbered
Each one good and glorious.
Help us trust when we grow weary,
Free us from our anxious thoughts;
Give us grace to see more clearly
You are God and we are not.

Christ our wisdom, be our gladness
When we fail to understand
You ordain all joy and sadness
To fulfill Your perfect plan.
Help us know You rule with power
Over every raging flood;
In our most uncertain hour
You are God and we are loved.

Christ our wisdom, we will follow
Though the way ahead is veiled.
As we journey through the shadows
Grant us faith where sight has failed.
Help us cling to Your commandments,
Strengthened by Your faithful word.
We will never be abandoned,
You are God and we are Yours.

Christ our wisdom, we adore You
For the beauty of the cross.
Once in foolishness we scorned You,
But Your blood has ransomed us.
Help us sing the endless mercies
Of Your humble heart to save!
Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory,
You are God forever praised!

Listen here: https://youtu.be/2NlxdVH6c24?is=uZ2dhdc92AqWRL_-

Let’s pray for each other this week, that we would grow to trust and follow Wisdom incarnate more and more as we walk this life by faith, knowing that one day our faith will become sight, and we will be with Him, forever! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

More on opening your mouth (Ps. 81:10, pt 2)

Hi Ladies,

Some of you probably appreciated the shorter meditation and prayer focus on Psalm 81:10 last week. 😄  But it left some of you with questions. I am so glad it did, and even more so that you asked! My goal is to help you learn how to think biblically, not just to tell you what to think. But sometimes, I’m not as clear as I think I am. So please know that I love your questions, regardless of why! 

Here is the question: How do we practically “fill up” with God? 

First, we must acknowledge that it is ultimately His work: “I will fill.” (God is the one speaking in this verse)

But, it does require our willing obedience: “Open your mouth.” 

So what might this look like for you this week? 

- If you don’t already, purpose to set aside time with Him in His Word and in prayer. He wants it!

- Pray before you open His Word, “Show me more of who You are as I open Your Word. And satisfy me with Yourself as I behold You.” He desires to do this!

- When anxiety wells up, don’t turn to your temporary comfort of choice (you know what it is). Rather, turn to His eternal promises to be Your loving Shepherd, your anchor, your deliverer, your peace, etc. He will provide everything you need!

- When loneliness overwhelms, go to the One who has given you His Spirit to dwell in you. He will never leave you nor forsake you!

- When your schedule threatens to pull you in 10 directions, pause. Hold your plans (and your heart) up to the Lord with open hands, and ask Him to show you His will for you. Ask Him for wisdom and grace to walk in His way, and to be filled with His Words, no matter how busy things get around you. He will guide, and provide!

- When you’re wrestling with defining your worth by others’ opinions of you, saturate your mind with the truths about who He has made you in Christ. And do whatever it takes to keep meditating on them. He wants you to trust His character and His purposes for you fully!

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it! 

Notice that all of these “practices” involve the truths of His Word. Christ (quoting Moses in Deut 8:3) says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). True satisfaction can only come from unchanging Truth. 

But also notice that these truths are relational. He promises to fill us with Himself! (Read the entire Psalm to see this more clearly). As we behold Him in His Word, we are being transformed more and more into the image of Christ. He is producing in us the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace… We are not simply obeying commands. We are communing with Him, “filling up” on Him, obeying out of love and because we know it truly is the best thing for us! 

If our cup is filled with Him, everything else is overflow.

People’s opinions affect us, but not to the same degree. 

We enjoy earthly gifts, but only insomuch as they cause us to acknowledge the Giver.

We feel the weights of the burdens of this life, but they don’t crush us. 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. This is what it looks like to abide!

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would grow in our desire and ability to receive His Words and live them out in every practical area of our lives. And let’s encourage and help each other pursue this together! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

Open your mouth and…

Hi Ladies,

I mentioned a while back that I thought the Lord was doing something around the theme of words. Between Pastor Jason's Proverbs series and the ladies' study through James, it's certainly proving true in my own life! And it seems no matter which part of the Bible I am reading or studying beyond these two right now, that theme keeps surfacing. Sometimes it is through very vivid pictures. 

I want to share one with you, in hopes that it will encourage and motivate you this week as it has me. We find the directive "open your mouth" or similar statements almost 30 times in Scripture. The majority of them refer to speaking. However, I read one in Psalms that stopped me:

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." (Ps. 81:10)

Can you picture it? Sinful creatures (you and me) standing like tiny stalks on this giant globe, gazing up toward heaven with our mouths gaping open, desperate to be satisfied. And our Infinite, intimate Creator is there, waiting and eager to fill us to overflowing.

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it," He says.

How often do we look horizontally for filling? John Piper keenly notes, "The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world." (A Hunger For God) We might think we're okay because we don't crave sin. But have we curbed our hunger for Him by filling up on His gifts instead? 

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." 

If we are filled to overflowing with Him, what comes out? 

Now, we are ready to open our mouths and speak words of life, words of wisdom, words of joy and peace and hope. 

Let's pray for one another this week, that we would look up, open up, and let Him fill us up and satisfy us with Himself. And then let’s go be who He wants us to be for one another. ❤️🙏 

Anna

A Prayer for Persevering Peace (2 Thess. 3:16)

Hi Ladies,

We've prayed through various aspects of persevering this past month, and these prayers will remain important until we see Christ face to face. But I thought that this prayer of Paul's from 2 Thessalonians would be a fitting way to keep applying it forward:

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Th. 3:16

Not only are peace and perseverance connected by alliteration (some of you love that!), but more importantly they are connected theologically. But I want you to see it for yourself…

We usually stick to the ESV translation for these meditations, but I want you to read this verse from the New Living Translation (NLT):

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Th. 3:16

Both of the highlighted differences are right implied in the first translation, but I love how the NLT emphasizes 1) the source and quality of the peace, and 2) the extent and application of the peace.

First, this peace is sourced in none other than the Lord of peace Himself - “Prince of peace!” (Is. 9:6), “God of peace” (5 times in the NT!). This is our Lord. And He now dwells in us by His Spirit. This is why He can - and will - give us peace. And not just any peace. His peace!

But let’s step back and ask, what really is peace? 

Is it the absence of conflict? 

All we need to do is look at Christ’s life to know that can’t be true. 

So, what is it? 

According to the Strong’s biblical usage, this kind of peace is “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.”

One word picture that captures this well is the calm in the eye of a storm. No matter what may be happening around us, our knowledge of God and all His graces to us - past, present, and future - allows us to live in confident assurance of His sovereign power, wisdom, goodness and love. This is no surfacy or short-lived peace, but a deep and abiding peace that perseveres because of who our God is.

Secondly, notice the extent and application of the peace: “at all times and in every situation.” 

Paul doesn’t leave it at the broad extent of “all,” which is amazing enough! But He draws attention to the specific application of this peace: “in every situation”: 

When your husband misunderstands you. (Again)

When your child hurts you. (Again)

When your friend betrays you. (Again)

When your bank account is low. (Again)

When your car breaks down. (Again)

When you get a cancer diagnosis. (Again)

When your "perfect" plans fail. (Again)

When the desires of your heart remain unfulfilled. (Again)

Every, single situation.

Every time.

His peace is available and sufficient for each one.

We cannot have this peace apart from Him, because it is sourced in the Lord of peace Himself. But if He is in us, we have all we need by faith to trust Him to provide it for all, and every, situation. And then we can walk, even through the storms, with perfect peace. Persevering peace. 

Let’s pray for one another this week, that the Lord of peace Himself would give each of us His peace at all times and in every situation. And let's also seek to be channels of this peace to one another!

And as Paul concluded his prayer, may the Lord be with each one of you, dear ladies. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

Week 4: Persevering in belief

Hi Ladies,

We’ve made it to the last full week of May! I don’t know if you’ve needed the exhortations to persevere as much as I have, but with the high number of admonitions in Scripture, it seems as if God knew we would all need them at some point. 🙂 

This final week, we will focus on what He says about persevering in the faith, or our belief in Him. The Bible has some strong warnings about this... so much so that many people (perhaps maybe even some of you) grew up thinking that you could lose your salvation.

As with many other topics in Scripture, this one is so important to consider in light of the WHOLE of Scripture. I've heard it said that nearly every heresy is born out of scripture, meaning that it is possible to take a verse or part of a verse and develop a system of belief around it that goes against what the rest of the Bible teaches. This is why we need to know our whole Bible!

Because this is a big topic, I’m going to do my best to give you a high-level view. And if you desire to dig more, I will gladly help you do so. 😊

First, it’s abundantly clear that we must continue in the faith, or continue believing the gospel (who God is, what He has done for us, who we were and now are in Christ, etc). Read the passages below for a small taste:

- “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:1-2)

- “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” (Col. 1:21-23a)

- “And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mk. 13:13)

- The book of Hebrews is essentially one big exhortation to persevere and not give in to unbelief. But here are a few specific examples: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
‘Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.’... Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…. Consider[ing Christ]… so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Heb. 10:36-38, 12:1-3)

This perseverance is a perseverance to the end - to the finish line where our sanctification becomes glorification… where our faith becomes sight! But maybe you are thinking thoughts like, “This feels impossible! What about my doubts? My eyes keep losing sight of the finish line. I failed… again! Why would God allow so much struggle?” We could all add more.

Every Word is God-breathed and profitable. So we cannot gloss over these passages. But now that we’ve seen how real and clear these warnings are, let’s look at what else He tells us:

- “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Th. 5:22-23)

- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Rom. 8:28-30)

- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet. 1:3-5)

- “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)

These passages are glorious! I wish we had time and space to unpack each of them. But to summarize, we are able to persevere because God has promised to preserve us. Do you hear that ladies? If you are His, you will persevere. Not without hard work. Not without tears. Not without discouragements and doubts. But you will persevere.

And as I’ve been reminding us (from Scripture!), part of God’s means of enabling us to persevere is the gift of the body, the church. We need to be reminding each other of who He is, what He has done and continues to do, who we are, and all that lies ahead. These kinds of exhortations protect us from unbelief (Heb. 3:13). 

And that is a huge responsibility - and privilege - we have toward one another.

So let’s pray for ourselves and for one another this week, that we would work hard to persevere in belief, fully trusting that God will be faithful to preserve us to the end. And through His power in us, let’s make sure we do all we can to spur each other across the finish line as well. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

Week 3: Persevering in love and good works

Hi Ladies,

I hope you're seeing that the Bible has much to say about perseverance. We've looked at passages exhorting us to persevere 1) in prayer, and 2) in trials/struggles. This week, I'd like us to meditate on the repeated charge to persevere in love and good works. 

While the Greek word meaning “to continue under” isn’t specifically used except in one of these eight passages below, they are each connected, either by synonyms in word or thought. I’ll highlight those connections briefly as we look at each passage. Note that this is not an exhaustive list, but enough to prove that God cares about our continuing in love and good works!

1) “Love is patient…. Love bears all things…endures all things. Love never ends”
(1 Cor. 13:4, 7, 8) - In this familiar passage describing biblical love, four times we see the theme of love’s continuance. It is patient (bearing long), bearing all, bearing under (hypomeno!), and never-failing. We cannot love this way on our own. It must be sourced in the Spirit, which is the next passage…

2) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…patience, kindness, goodness” (Gal. 5:22) - Love and patience are both fruit of the Spirit. So are kindness and goodness! Apart from His indwelling presence and power, we cannot persevere in love and good works toward one another. But if you and I are alive by the Spirit (and I pray that you are!), then let us keep in step with Him! (v. 25). And not just toward people who are easy to love…

3) “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Rom. 15:1-2) - As with the passages last week, this kind of bearing assumes a burden. This passage depicts that burden as people. We are not here to please ourselves, but rather to live for our family’s good, to build up the body of Christ. Paul repeats this admonition to the church at Ephesus…

4) “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2) - Paul reminds them (and us) to continue persevering patiently in love with one another. We cannot do this if we see ourselves as better, so Paul says to do it with all humility and gentleness, remembering the gospel. This wasn’t an isolated message. The church at Rome got it. The church at Ephesus got it. And so did the church at Colossae…

5) “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:13-14) - As Paul anchored the previous passage in walking worthy of our calling (a present responsibility in light of past action), so here, Paul anchors the exhortation in our being chosen and forgiven. Once again, we cannot persevere simply by our own determination! Because of who we are in Christ, and what He has done and continues to do in us by the Spirit, we can persevere in love and good works. 

But Paul wasn’t the only apostle to exhort towards this perseverance…

6) “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly”  (1 Pet. 4:8) - Peter exhorted the same. This verse more literally reads, “keep fervent in your love for one another.” Love is not a one-time decision. We need to keep fervent in this Spirit-fueled command. But the final two passages don’t let us stop there…

7) “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another…. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more” (1 Th. 4:9-10) - Paul is complimentary, but not satisfied! He reminds the Thessalonian church (and now us) to love to even greater degrees. The more we are conformed to the image of Christ, and His love has captivated our hearts, the more we can love like Him. And the writer of Hebrews echoes this…

8) “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25) - Ladies, the day of Christ’s return is near! It was near two thousand years ago, and it’s even nearer now. As the culture grows more hostile to Christ, and to Christians, we must put effort into “stirring up” one another to love and good works… and not only from a distance, but especially in person, meeting together to encourage each other to persevere. 

God has given us all we need in Christ by the Spirit to persevere in love and good works. But part of that gift is the church family - (you… and me!), connected to our Head (Christ) and enlivened by the Spirit. Sometimes we lose sight of its “gift,” as personality differences and relational strains and sins can skew our perspective. But we are a gift to one another. And we can persevere in love and good works toward one another, for God’s glory and our good! 

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would be freshly aware of all that we have to live this way, and then live it. 🙏🏼❤️

Anna 

Week 2: Persevering in the struggle

Hi Ladies,

Last week, I mentioned how I was thinking about perseverance in light of our theme of “Abide.” I want to take a few moments this week to show you just how powerful the connection is - literally and theologically! 

If you remember back to January or to our retreat, I shared that the most common word for “abide” in the original language of the New Testament (Greek) is the word meno (check out pronunciation and more by clicking on the word). It's a rich word that carries a complex meaning: to remain, to stay, to dwell, to continue. 

Well, the Greek word for “persevere” (or “endure”) is hypomeno. Do you see it?! This compound word literally means to remain under. And as you will see in the verses below, the contexts suggest remaining under difficult situations. We would expect this based on how we use the word today. You’d get raised eyebrows if you said to someone, “Keep persevering in your bliss!”  

But what hard things has God specifically called us to endure or to persevere in? 

Look at the following verses: 

- “And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 10:22).

- “Be patient in tribulation” (Rom. 12:12).

- “Remember Jesus Christ… for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:8-12).

- “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb. 12:1b-3).

- “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

- “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (1 Pet. 2:20).

In this sampling of verses (use Blue Letter Bible to read them all!), we see interconnected themes. God is calling us to endure or to persevere…

- in our Christian walk and verbal witness, despite others’ hatred

- in dire circumstances (tribulations, trials)

- in our own fight against sin and the burdens that weigh us down

Struggles within…struggles around…struggles with others… They all require us to remain under the hardship. We don’t like this! Endurance training is hard, both physically and spiritually. It asks us to push beyond what we think we can push. But this is the very thing that strengthens us. God in His perfections has designed it this way. Just as a loving father disciplines or trains his children in order to mature them, so our loving Father trains us (Heb. 12:5-10). And we echo the writer of Hebrews by acknowledging that “for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11).

The beautiful reality is that God has not simply called us to this and left us to figure out how to survive, but He has given us all we need to remain under the struggles. He’s not only given us Christ as our example - “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2) - but He's also given us His Spirit who abides within us, empowering us to persevere in the ongoing struggles. God never calls us to something that He does not provide for. And this is especially true of perseverance in this life! 

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we will persevere in the struggles within, around and even with each other, knowing that God is using these things to mature us and ready us for Christ’s return. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna