Never Give Up, Never Stop Praising!

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

-          Philippians 4:12-13 ESV

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.

-          Hebrews 12:12 ESV

In martial arts, there will be times that you want to give up. You will be tested and will be stretched out to your limits. When you overcome this, you will become more skillful—more agile, will have greater endurance, and will be better than before. Don’t you know that this too is true when it comes to our walk with God? There will be times that we will be pushed to our limits, even to the point wherein we want to give up. Why do God allow us to experience this when HE is portrayed as an ever loving God (John 3:16)?

Just like in martial arts, there will always be difficulties in our lives. This is caused by a lot of factors. But always know that God is not blind to what we face every day (Jeremiah 23:24). He knows what we are going through. Because of this, even though we are about to give up, bear in mind that God may let us bend but he will never let us break. This means that what we experience today is within our capabilities, within HIS grace.  

Why do God allow this to happen to me?

In martial arts, sometimes the sensei would push his students to do more even though his students are exhausted and about to give up. He does this because he wants his students not only to reach their limits but to surpass them, making them better and more skilful compared the last time. This is also the same with God. HE allows us to experience difficulties and trials because HE wants us to become a better Christian, stretching our love and faith to him all the more (James 1:2-4).

Are you about to give up?

Do you believe that your problem is so great that all you

can do is give up? If you answered yes, then you should think again. Sometimes God takes away everything that we have until all that we got is HIM. This is because there are times that we rely on our OWN strength and capabilities and forget that without him we can do nothing (John 15:5). This means that in our life’s most difficult situation, it is an opportunity for us to experience God all the more! Instead of being worried and burdened, we should instead be happy knowing that we will experience HIM and HIS love for us (Psalms 34:18).

Fight until the end!

Knowing that God—who created everything—is for us, we need not to worry and instead keep on fighting. Let us do our best and let God work on the things beyond our control. It is not about how many times you fell but about how many times you fought and about how many times you continued to praise HIM at that time.

Praise HIM when you’re sad. Praise him when you’re lonely. When you are about to give up, praise HIM all the more!

Verses to Remember:

• I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)
• Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. (Hebrews 12:12 ESV)
• For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)
• Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? Declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24 ESV)
• Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)
• I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 ESV)
• The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18 ESV)

Questions to Ponder:

1.  How can I continue to praise God even when I am in my most difficult situation?
2.  Did I thanked God today?
3. Take time to pray today and thank God for everything, including the trials that you experience in your life, knowing that it is for your own benefit.