Day 18: PERSEVERE
Cheri (texting my daughter): “I don’t know what to say about perseverance.”
Annemarie (clearly not wearing her sarcasm-free bracelet): “I could write about putting up with you for 21 years. Har-har!”
Cheri (resisting the urge to take the bait. After all, my 3rd bracelet is almost worn out!): “Fery Vunny.”
Annemarie (appropriately contrite): “j/k. Hey, I could write about going from no exercise to running five miles almost every day.”
Cheri: “Coolio!
Cheri (fighting–unsuccessfully–the urge to snark): And I’ll end by writing about putting up with you for 21 years!”
(Changing bracelet…)
One. Step. at. a. Time.
(from Annemarie)
I never, ever want to get up and run. Every morning is a struggle and a grumble to turn off the alarm and get out of bed.
I pray as I am getting up and sleepwalking into my clothes and walking out the door.
Running really is a “one step at a time” thing for me, mentally as well as physically. Twenty laps–5 miles–is a lot. But when I focus on this one lap, on this one stride, this one step at a time, it’s not so overwhelming.
Twenty laps is a long time, and I have nothing else to do but pray the whole time. So I focus on Him, on my next step, on getting in step with Him.
Before I know it, the whole thing is done, and it wasn’t as hard as I had feared.
Best of all, I know I can do it. Each time I do reinforces my belief.
I read a devotion the other day that said, “No matter what the situation is, pray ‘Lord, I am delighted to serve you in this.’ ”
My part is to take the next step.
Forced Changes
(back to Cheri)
My one worry about The PURSE-onality Challenge is too much change coming too fast to last.
Are we gritting our teeth and white-knuckling our way through on our own will-power and won’t-power?
Such changes won’t last.
Are we stuffing our true feelings on the inside and faking nice on the outside?
Such changes won’t last.
In a recent blog post, Michael Hyatt wrote, “In life, we have to learn there is a fine line between working hard and forcing an outcome….”
A timely reminder that the outcomes I’ve forced rarely persevere.
Yes, the change process requires hard work. But sometimes, “the next step” is an intentional step back.
In their book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, the Heath brothers point out that “self-control–in the broad sense of self-supervision (any time you’re paying close attention to your actions)–is an exhaustible resource.”
Lasting Changes
Many of you have responded to our blog posts and your own daily experiences of “paying close attention” to your complaining+ with comments like:
- “Ouch! You nailed me!”
- “Are you spying on me?”
- “I never saw myself this way!”
Changes are happening. Important changes. Necessary changes.
Change is good.
And, according to the Heath brothers, “change is hard because [we] wear [ourselves] out….”
My sarcasm “slip” has been showing more and more over the last few days. I’m tired of “being good” all the time.
Which means I’ve been trying to force a “good” outcome with my own strength and without rest.
I’m reminded that during change “what looks like laziness is often exhaustion.”
Pause to Persevere
(Can’t see the image? Click here to download 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a!)
(later) Back again!
Did you miss me?
You didn’t even realize I was gone? So much for the story I tell myself that people can’t live without me!
The song lyric “even soldiers need a quiet place to rest” wandered through my mind as I was writing.
So I took a nap.
I was really tired. More tired than I thought.
Sometimes, perseverance is about running forward. Putting our trust and hope in God into action.
Other times, it’s about “running home when I fall down.” To the One who always protects and never fails.
And spending time in scripture, silence, and solitude.
With the One whose love is our reason for change and our power for perseverance.
Try this today:
Listen to or read the lyrics to Twila Paris’s “The Warrior is a Child.”
Leave a comment!
- responding to today’s blog, and/or
- sharing your Day #1-18 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or
- about anything else on your heart!
How true. I too have tried to force many things when the outcome is not coming as fast as I would like it or in the manner that I expected.
HOW many times have I caused the Lord to change his focus because I wouldn’t change mine?
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But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest….
I love that….I love how I am learning to focus my thoughts on God ….even when things get hectic…
Today was extra hard for me as I encountered challenge after challenge. I really forgot how many times t switched my bracelet. I went back and read the blog from yesterday again. I’m encouraged that the bracelet and devotions plus study cards helps to remind me of what I think or say. Thank you for helping in this area. It tells me that I am striving to be more and more like Jesus!
Today really speaks to me. There are so many times I start something only to get frustrated with myself and quit. Whether it’s losing weight, reading a book, or even relationships. I need to persevere but it’s so hard. Perhaps it’s because I always seem to try to persevere on my own. I need to ask God to help me to persevere. With His help and guidance I know I can do it. Thank you so much for this series! He is speaking to me through you in so many ways. God bless!
Love this! (And I love that Twila Paris song! ;))
Same thing With me newequus! It’s amazing to look back and see how far I’ve come!
Annemarie’s point is so appropriate. I can look back at things that I’ve done and realized how much I’ ve persevered by taking one step at a time. 🙂
I love this one!! Thank you so much for this series.
@Nikki – I understand where you’re at…me too. Will be praying for you.
The “one step at a time” is a “perfect” analogy. Thank you!
Heidi J
I know it is such a challenge to be more positive in yourself. The hardest part is when you are struggling on day 18 to be positive in yourself and others are totally negative and with your positive attitude you are trying guide them. And it doesn’t work.!! That is my challenge for today.
I have enjoyed every days challenge and am committed to seeking God and following his will.