Grit

Confession. I've not been exercising perseverance in my studies lately. I've been letting Youtube take over hours of my study time. It's been a twisted weekend, and I am so ashamed. God's given me this time at school right? He's provided the money to attend this school, wonderful profs to inspire me, and mentors who want to help me be the best that I can be. He's taken me to a place where I need to focus on being trained to fulfill a vocation in this world. And I'm willing to disregard it all for a few episodes of TV programs.

I read Acts 14 today, in which Paul and Barnabas escape assassination plots in Icoium only to be hailed as gods in Lystra and shortly thereafter, stoned and left for dead in the same city. THE NEXT DAY, Paul and Barnabas leave for Derbe and receive a great response in that city. Then they return to the cities where they had previously faced intense persecution and set about strengthening the believers there, rejoicing in how God had opened doors during their travels. Wow, such perseverance. Their determination won them success in building the kingdom of God. They couldn't have done it alone---God's grace and vision helped them to keep walking with Him. I know my avoidance of Spirit's prompting and His rebuke have allowed me to stray into my pathetic place of inactivity. I know that God doesn't condemn me today for ways I have fallen short in the past days. Instead, He's leaving the door open for me to do things differently today. I know I can because His power is in me to conquer sin, but I have to keep this image in my head of the disciples, remembering that no commission was ever fulfilled by someone who insisted on checking out of responsibility and accountability.