Hebrews 10:36 NLT, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
According to dictionary.com, the meaning of persevere is: “to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.”
I saw a few definitions for persevere, however, I like this one a lot because it mentions being persistent, and maintaining our purpose, even in the midst of difficult challenges or any discouragement we may feel.
Rather we are going through trials or doing good things such as pursuing goals or helping people, remaining steadfast and staying the course does take perseverance. God will give us strength each day, so we can do what we need to. We can rely on Him for our our daily bread and the wisdom we need to make good decisions and take needed actions.
My word for 2024 is persevere. (Thanks Bridget for encouraging us to pray about a word). I am looking forward to experiencing the many ways that God will continue to be faithful in this new year. When we persevere in the will of God, God will give us what He has promised. May we continue to walk by faith as we persevere in our trust in God. His love never fails.
Isaiah 40:31 NIV, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Keep seeking the Lord…
1 Chronicles 16:11-12 NIV, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.”
The Lord will bless & keep you…
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
I am sure we have all had joys and pains as we’ve journeyed through this past year. But hopefully, the joy in your life has outweighed the pain.
One thing that has kept me is the love of God and knowing that He is with me continuously. Being able to talk with Him at any time and place has been my lifeline. His love never fails.
As many of you know, my mom passed away back in January, so 2023 has been a year of experiencing many “firsts without mom,” including this Christmas. Although it has not been easy, I’ve continued to learn a lot about the faithfulness of God and His unfailing love for me. He is our Rock.
Psalm 18:2 GWT, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.”
I am also grateful for the love of family and friends and all the encouragement I have received from our WordPress community. The words in your posts and your comments inspire me! Please keep writing!
And lastly, I did not want the year to end without mentioning the beautiful and peaceful country of Costa Rica. 🇨🇷
My daughter and I visited Costa Rica in August. We enjoyed ourselves. There was delicious fresh food and friendly people. If you have never visited before, I hope you get to. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave.
Traditional Costa Rican breakfast
We also had adventures like viewing waterfalls, seeing volcanoes, relaxing in the hot springs, bike riding, horse riding, and spending time at the beach.
Me and my daughter
We met some interesting people (especially at the beach). There are too many encounters to mention, but I will say that I met a few solo female travelers, including a teacher from Germany who was there taking advantage of her long summer vacation. She said we were the first Americans she had met so far.
Playa Conchal
My favorite solo female traveler was a 75 year old lady by the name of Ms. Apostolopoulos (cool Greek name). Although she was born in Greece, she is now a U.S. citizen. She was visiting Costa Rica for the first time. We talked for a couple of hours and the time flew by. I thought it was courageous of her to make the trip alone. I saw tears in her eyes as she spoke about how much she missed her mom; I could relate. But, I also saw tears as she spoke of her abusive ex-husband, who she said almost took her life twice. I think I’ll never forget her. It’s a privilege to meet people and hear their stories.
The view from our room at Hotel Guachipelin
Hearing my daughter converse in Spanish with the locals was also a treat. Her Spanish-speaking skills impress me. The locals were impressed, too; they wanted to know how she learned to speak their language so well.
Oropendola Waterfall
I’m thankful I was blessed to visit Costa Rica. It was indeed one of my joys this year! I also visited Luray Caverns in Luray, Virginia, back in May. A place I’ve wanted to go to since I was younger. I finally made it to the cave!
Inside Luray Caverns
As you reflect on God’s goodness, the lessons you have learned, the accomplishments you have had, or the challenges you have faced in 2023, I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with peace, joy, and strength for the new year ahead.
Father,
I pray for each person who reads this. May they sense your presence as they go about their day. Comfort them with your peace and heal any pain. Remind them of your faithfulness and love. Thank you for who you are to us. And thank you for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 127:1 ESV,“The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”
Revelation 1:5 NKJV, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”
May the joy, peace, and love that this male Child, Jesus Christ, offers to the world, be yours throughout this Christmas season and beyond. The salvation He offers us is the greatest gift we can ever receive.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Blessings!
Isaiah 30:18, “So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.”
Not too long ago, I was in a worship service and the worship leader shared with us that she felt the Lord impressing upon her heart that even the sound of our breathing was beautiful and pleasing to Him. Our Heavenly Father, was delighted that we were there in His presence. It wasn’t all about the words we spoke or the songs we sang. It was about our very existence, the fact that we were living and breathing.
Photo by: Ivan Samkov
There are times where we may feel so overwhelmed with the cares of life, that we may not even feel like praying. And when we do pray, we may feel we do not know where to begin. Those are the times where we just need to show up, because the Lord is waiting for us to come to Him so that He can show us His love and compassion.
Sometimes, just sitting quietly in His presence, brings the peace that our soul needs. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need to be encouraged in every circumstance. And He will supply those needs, when we take a step of faith and just show up.
Photo by: MART PRODUCTION
So the next time you feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to go to the Lord in prayer, just show up anyway. He understands your heart. His faithfulness, compassion and love are waiting for you. And remember, His love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Isaiah 43:13, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Knowing that God is with us, holding our hand and helping us through each day brings immense hope. Life is unpredictable, but this truth that He is holding our hand, walking with us through whatever we face, makes our steps steady.
We do not have to fear today or tomorrow because God is with us. There is not one moment in our day that He is not aware of. So don’t let the trials of this life cause you to give up on God or the promises He has made to you. Keep holding tight to His hand. He will help you.
I’ve discovered that most people have a favorite season. Although I’m not a fan of pollen, I like spring the best, especially after the cold winter. Seeing things come back to life, such as the new blooms that spring up is refreshing. However, I have also found myself fond of fall this year. I’ve always liked the beautiful colors of the leaves. But I also feel drawn to the serenity and mellow pace that fall ushers in.
Photo by: Jill Wellington of Michigan, USA 🇺🇸
As for winter, just as I catch myself complaining about the lower temperatures, I end up chatting with people who love this season because they love the cold weather it brings. Some have even said they look forward to wearing winter clothes and playing in the snow. After having lived in Michigan for eleven years, I know I’m not that fond of snow. But I did enjoy walking in the parks it had to offer.
Photo by: 100 files
Moving on to summer, I don’t recall ever meeting anyone who didn’t like this season. It’s a season often filled with fun activities, extra time outdoors and extended daylight hours (depending on where you live). Summer always seems to be a hit.
Photo by: Vaibhav Kashyap of India 🇮🇳
Lately, I have become increasingly aware that the seasons of our lives change, even more than the weather. Looking back, we can see the many seasons we have been through. And reminisce about all the people we met along the way. Some of which played significant roles in our lives. Reflecting on the seasons of our lives allows us to be thankful for the lessons we’ve learned and the countless blessings we’ve received.
Photo by: Taryn Elliott of South Africa 🇿🇦
As we go through life, every day is part of a season, and the season we are in will eventually change. So, learning to enjoy each season of life should always remain a priority. Enjoying life doesn’t mean every day has to be filled with tons of entertainment or activity. It just means we’ve reached a place where we learn to see the good despite the bad. We learn to slow down and appreciate what we’ve been given. We learn to love the people who God has blessed us to be with during this time in our lives, because circumstances can change quickly and often without notice. We should never take anything or anyone for granted.
Focusing only on tomorrow while neglecting the purpose God has for us today will cause us to miss out on something good. And the opposite is also true. So, balance is needed.
Photo by: Matheus Bertelli of Brazil 🇧🇷
I believe prayer is a gift that keeps us balanced, aware of God’s presence, thankful for His blessings, and aware of what He wants to do in our lives tomorrow, but also today.
As we enjoy the changing seasons, and the various weather conditions that go along with it, may we also enjoy the seasons of our lives. Every season has highs and lows, but through the sufficiency of God’s grace, we can continue to persevere as we walk by faith day by day.
To those celebrating it, have a Happy Thanksgiving day on Thursday! 🍁
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus, 1 Thessalonians 5:18.”
So what’s your favorite season? And why? How have you learned to remain thankful throughout the seasons of your life?
Drawing Closer to Christ 