Stick With It!

This message is for those who are getting weary or faint, the ones who are getting discouraged, it’s Monday-new week and all, but it’s repetitive, it’s mundane. This message encourages the ones that God is calling them to elevation or spiritual maturity. This message is for the ones who have been stagnant or complacent, even scared, or eventually walked away from it all. This message is for the ones who are in the middle of warfare. You are seeing trouble on every side and trying to figure out when it’s going to end or you’re literally being worn out from it.

The Lord wants me to remind us to stick with it.

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 ESV

5 Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise]. 2 Corinthians 5:5 AMP

I remembered the message that Bishop gave to my church and me, coming from Matthew 15 regarding the Canaanite woman and her daughter. I admired her resilience, despite her status, and her circumstance, she had one focus, one goal which is for her daughter to be saved by Jesus. She stuck with the mission and did not compromise her goal. She did not settle for less, but she only settle on what God can do and will do for her daughter.

Sticking with God is challenging though. It can and will be hard. But like any relationship or friendship, it comes with challenges and its own tribulations. However, God will NEVER give up on you. He will NEVER stop loving you. He will NEVER stop believing in you or using you. We cannot change His mind about us no matter how hard we tried. You may be giving up on yourself, but the Lord is saying to you “that I am NOT GIVING UP on YOU”. While the Lord is requiring us to stick with it with Him, He is also saying that He is sticking with it, when it comes to you. He made a promise to you and He will see to it no matter what…literally lol

Don’t believe that? Let me give you Bible: “5 ‘As for the promise which I made with you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit stands [firm and immovable] and continues with you; do not fear!’ 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the desirable and precious things of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory and splendor,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:5-7 AMP

God means what He said, and He says what He meant. Although He was saying that to the children of Israel, the Word applies to us in today’s time as well.

Here are some reminders when you stick with it in God.

Cling on to the Holy Spirit.

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV

The Bible said “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 ESV

We CAN NOT DO THIS ON OWN! The Lord wants us to be completely dependent on Him. He wants all of that and more. We can’t fight things of this world through carnality. Carnality basically means the quality or state of being merely temporal or worldly; lack of spiritual vitality or maturity. Being carnal will not work. But clinging onto the Holy Spirit, who is the representation of God, who knows ALL and sees ALL, will help you.

Build up your stamina and endurance in the Lord.

2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1: 2-4 AMP

I love how the scripture says “Consider it an opportunity for great joy”. Cause let’s be honest, we really don’t get excited or enthusiastic when trouble comes lol We be like “Oh

Lord…here we go again! Oh my God, why me Lord?! Why is this happening to me?!” But we need to understand according to the scripture that endurance builds up endurance, it builds up our faith, it builds up our character, and it’s all going to mature us.

Are you willing to grow up in God? Let me ask this, is God calling you to spiritual maturity? Is He telling you to grow up? Just like any aspiring athlete or a person trying to lose weight or become a doctor or any profession, it all requires us to go deeper. It requires us to study our profession, step out of our comfort zone, or even hire someone (in this case the Holy Spirit) to cultivate us. It requires submission. How can we say that we are a disciple or a follower of Jesus Christ, but having a hard time submitting or yielding to Him? It’s all a part of building your endurance.

So how can I build it? There are several scriptures that explain that trials and tribulations build up your endurance. Just a like a rock being completely heated, sculpted, and refine and it comes out to be a diamond. This also applies to us. The Word of the Lord helps you to endure any tests and trials. You can’t rely on your friends, family, career, drugs, sex, money, your pastor, etc because people can disappoint you and the things of this world can only do so much. It will all not satisfy you and lift you up. But the Word can. The Word of God is pure and true. It will not fade and it’s never irrelevant. It’s always right on time and edifying if you actually believe in it.

Because “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

Remember your why. Don’t forfeit the process. Don’t abort the mission that God has for you.

What has God promised to you? What was the vision, idea, or dream that the Lord has given to you or that prayer that you have been praying for? Remember your why. Do not allow things of this world or disappointments, drastic changes that you did not expect, or being hurt to change your position in God. Do not allow the conditions of this world to change your disposition toward God. We must REMAIN. ENDURE. REMAIN STEADFAST. STICK WITH IT.

Listen, it’s so crucial for us to stick with it because your life depends on it, your children’s lives depend on it, your marriage/relationship/friendship depends on it, your mind depends on it, your business/ministry/career depends on it, your family and friends lives depends on it, and more. How God can entrust us with more, but we quickly grow tired and weary and eventually give up or get complacent in God.

Remember this: “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.” Galatians 6:9 AMP

I pray that the post lifts up your spirit. I pray that you are literally hearing God’s voice right now and encouraging you to stick with it. He is holding you up, He is giving you a reason to live again, to breathe again, to try again. You’re going to make it. It’s going to be alright. Whatever you are facing will not consume you because God is with you and covering you from seen and unseen harm. Stay close to God and stick with Him.

Scripture To Remember: "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. " Isaiah 40:31