Persistence

The parking garage where occasionally I park my car has many pipes running along the walls and ceiling. Every year in the Spring there are a couple of doves who insist on building their nest over an old hot water pipe. They carefully build their nest and balance it on the hot water pipe. The nest is poorly built and it leaves a huge mess over our cars. But it works for the doves. I call the pretty dove “Mama Dove” and the more masculine dove “Daddy Dove”. They are some tough birds and they don't take no mess.

I find twigs, feathers, lint, cotton and all sorts of creative things on the ground or on my car. This has been their prime spot for raising their baby doves for as long as I can remember. The spot is warm and cozy and it works for them.

One day earlier this year, a crow attacked the nest and destroyed it. The un-hatched baby doves died. I saw broken shells on the ground. It was really sad to see after watching all their hard work. I did not expect Mama Dove and Daddy Dove to return, but after about a month I saw them staking out the same spot again. Now, they have re-built their nest-- in the same location over the same hot water pipe. This really surprised me. I was astonished to see them sitting there as if nothing had happened.

"Bazinga!"
(If the doves could talk I think they would say that to the crow, LOL!)
Soon they will hatch young, healthy baby doves.

This is persistence. Perseverance. Endurance.

Sometimes, when it comes to waiting on God's promises we give up all too soon. We grow tired and weary in well-doing and sort of fall into a spiritual coma or nap time of sorts and end up missing out on great things that God has for us. This happens when we have not learned perseverance, endurance. I do believe that God has a lot of people in strength training right now. How strong are you in your faith? Is God toughening you up for something that He has called you to do?

When the enemy attacks you, do you fold up? Do you run or do you fight back? When territory is stolen from you by the enemy do you just let him take it?

We have weapons that are not carnal, but supernatural. (Ephesians 6).

Sometimes, it is too hard to fight back when the enemy attacks because we are so weighted down by things that do not matter. Weighted down by things that have nothing to do with our purpose. What is weighing you down today? (Hebrews 12:1).

I want to encourage you to focus and re-prioritize your life according to God's WORD. Be persistent in what He has called you to do. Persevere. Endure. Strength training is tough because you can feel your muscles hurting sometimes after a work out, but with time the pain will go away. You will be stronger. You will overcome. Lost territory will be returned. Keep sowing seeds in God's kingdom. Be persistent in the Lord!

Thought: Are you in God's strength training right now?

Read: Ephesians 6, Hebrews 12:1, 1 John 5:4

Prayer: Lord, help us to be persistent and consistent in doing your perfect and holy will each day. Strengthen us and help us to operate in and through Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Song in my Head: 'Your latter will be greater. The best is yet to come!' -Israel Houghton and New Breed