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| Continuing when you don't feel like it (on the importance of perseverance) |
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Last night I was reading “The Screwtape Letters” (C.S. Lewis) to my daughter. For those who don’t know, this book presents a series of contrived and imaginative letters from the demon Screwtape to his nephew and fellow demon, Wormwood, offering counsel in the art of tempting and beguiling humankind. As I read, a wonderful spiritual lesson jumped out at me!
Screwtape writes: “He (God) will set them off with communications of His presence which, though faint, seem great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation. But He never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature to stand up on its own leg – to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him the best."
Isn’t this a magnificent point? The demons know that our faith often thrives on the emotional highs, and when those mountaintop experiences fade in our memory we are wide open to spiritual attack. But, according to wise old Screwtape, if the Christian perseveres through these times of dryness, that is when the greatest spiritual growth occurs!!
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36)
10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Grace to you, as you persevere in the faith! |
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Cathy |
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March 13, 2007 at 7:03am |
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| Mike, I really needed to hear this today. I will persevere. Thanks |
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Randy |
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March 13, 2007 at 8:38am |
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Thank you Mike. As Cathy said I needed to hear this today. |
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Mike; I think you are reaching many with this today. Thank you for sharing and allowing God to bring forth this message. I definitely needed to hear this today too. Keep stepping out in faith as you blog and you shall be greatly rewarded. I can't remember where I heard this but... (It may have been in one of Max Lucado's books). "Paul gets to Heaven and Jesus greets him. Paul, thank you for allowing me to use you to reach so many people.... would you like to meet them?" I pray that we can all have many others to meet in Heaven that God has worked through us to help. Amen Bless you Mike |
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| i know I'm a little late commenting on this, but thank you so much for posting this. I really needed to hear it right now cause I feel like I'm constantly being worn down recently and I just wanna quit. Thanks so much for your post, it was really really helpful to me. |
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Hi Kaylen! Hey, NEVER too late to comment on a blog! That's why every one I've written is still posted on our profile page.
I know what you mean about being worn down!! I have offered up lately a LOT of "prayers offered in the state of dryness". My Christian walk is not filled with big mountaintop experiences, but rather the small joys of little revelations of God's great truths each morning. And little things that reveal to me that I'm not the same guy I was 10 years ago, I'm ever so gradually becoming more and more Christ-like. Amen?
Persevere with me, Kaylen!
~mike |
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I really liked the CS Lewis quote. You are right on the money concerning God taking pleasure when we pray in our periods of dryness. It is during these times that require a great deal of faith. I think as we persevere through prayer during the dry times we inherit from prayer, as EM Bounds says, "something of His likeness, and unconsciously we become witnesses to others of His beauty and His grace. |
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| I dont think anyone can ever get enough teachings of perservering... we are pretty much promised suffering, when Jesus basically says to His disciples ....If they are crucifying Me, just think about what they are going to do to you, when I'm gone... so perserverence is something we all have to do and all need help doing it... thanks for the encouragement!!! |
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Hello Mike n Laura
Love 'The Screwtape Letters'. Thanks for a marvellous insight and usual dose of encouragement. |
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| Dryness is often so difficult which makes this message all the more encouraging to hear and reason to press on. What a great verse! |
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Rosie |
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August 23, 2007 at 2:05am |
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| I've been to the desert on a horse with no name. But i'd rather stay in His presence and stand in His pouring rain. Let it rain.....Soak up enough to carry me through the desert times when they come...again and again.....perservering to the end......Thanks again Mike for another encouraging blog.... |
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Glenn |
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August 23, 2007 at 6:05am |
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Hey Mike,
I just got to read both your post here and Pastor Tim's prayer post http://www.mychurch.org/blog/52823/Prayer-Changes-Things and they are both very timely for me. I commented on Pastor Tim's post about taking the time to pray with a heart atuned to the Holy Spirit. When the dry times come, we more than ever need to pray with our heart tuned to God's will. I know not always easy to know God's will in every situation, but coming into His presence is the best way to let Him reveal His will to us.
peace
Glenn |
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| Thank you very much! For this has indeed been a testing period within myself. I will continue to fight the good fight... |
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Deb |
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August 23, 2007 at 11:54am |
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| Mike, this is great insight, and I thank you for sharing it with us. It is very encouraging for those who might be going through a tough time now, or to remember in the future when we go through the tough times, to persevere in our prayers and in our faith. Thanks! |
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| Amen my brother. Thank you for the spiritual pick me up |
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| Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback, dear friends!! Sorry I couldn't offer responses, suddenly things are extremely busy at work -- overflowing the banks into "home time". (But I'll persevere!) God bless, ~mike |
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| The Screwtape Letters is a great read.Really gets you thinking about spiritual warfare from a different angle.Thanks for post,couldn't have come at a better time.It's hard to persevere when you are going through a dry time & often at this time of the year I go through a dry time due to my own making.Thanks for the encouragement. |
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| Wonderful! A true child of God will persevere, there will be times of hardship and possible stillness, but a true child of God will continue in the faith, will overcome! God continues to work in the heart and draw us to himself. |
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Hi racunpoodle, thanks for your comment. I read Screwtape Letters to my eldest daughter, she was fascinated by the dialogue!
Amen pinkblossom! You're right, faith is key. Without faith, we're tempted to think that when we don't feel God's presence, He isn't there. Thus hardship and stillness weigh all the more heavily on us as we go in our own strength. Thanks for the reminder! |
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Eric |
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August 24, 2007 at 1:24pm |
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I've started memorizing James, and this ties in well as well: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. |
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haha, just read that last night w/the kids Eric, and I thought the same thing as you. Thanks for posting it!!
....you gonna memorize ALL of James? my hat's off to you brother! |
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| It seems to me that scriptures on wisdom, guidance, and faith tie in here as I often start to doubt that I'm on the right track. |
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Anna |
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August 25, 2007 at 11:35am |
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| Good post. It is so hard to keep going sometimes. Weariness is inevitable. But dedication and perseverence do pay off in the end, in the experience and wisdom gained through pressing on. I really appreciated this today. |
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Thanks Anna! Great to meet you on MyChurch today!  |
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| Thank you so much for this post. I really needed it today... more than anyone can know!!! God is ever faithful, always on time and knows exactly what He's doing!!! Thanks again!!! |
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Wendy |
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August 26, 2007 at 4:51pm |
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| Amen to this. Because of our occupation we had to go to a meeting that was only emotional high but I have been there and it leaves you tired and empty at the end |
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JayKTX |
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August 27, 2007 at 9:49am |
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You said:My Christian walk is not filled with big mountaintop experiences, but rather the small joys of little revelations of God's great truths each morning. And little things that reveal to me that I'm not the same guy I was 10 years ago, I'm ever so gradually becoming more and more Christ-like. Amen? Amen! Well said. |
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KdtW, you pay the highest compliment, glory to the Lord for his faithfulness! Wendy, I too have been struck by how quickly I've come down from the highs -- when they don't last I sometimes feel lower than I did going in. Jay, another supreme compliment, coming from someone as good with words as you!! Thank you!
Dave, thank you for your post too -- every response of yours is appreciated! Do you ever feel like you're in the trenches, on the front line, as you follow Jesus in the projects? Man, perseverance must take on a completely different significance for you than most of us. |
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| Every heavy hitter in the Bible had a desert experience. God seems to reach us in times of hardship in ways He can't reach us in times of ease. |
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ok NOW i gotta read screwtape letters AND thanks a ton Mike and Laura- God just used this blog in my life.
in Christ
TDK |
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| Thanks DarkKnight!! Those types of comments are absolutely the most rewarding ones I can think of getting! |
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Mandie |
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September 02, 2007 at 4:45am |
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| ouch |
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Grant |
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September 02, 2007 at 6:37pm |
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| Mike, since leaving my former denomination, I have looked for a church home now for 7 years, to no avail. Each time, I am abused, otherwise mistreated or become tired of man-made legalism. I feel like a lonely Christian at times, who wants to follow Christ and no man. Your post was very good encouragement in a time of discouragement. |
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MaKelly |
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September 30, 2007 at 3:44pm |
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Mike thanks so much for sharing, may I add
WHAT DOES PERSEVERANCE SHOW?
BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 4:1-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: At last the wall was completed to half its original height around the entire city, for the people had worked very hard. (Nehemiah 4:6)
PERSEVERANCE REVEALS GENUINE COMMITMENT.
The work of rebuilding the wall progressed well because the people had set their hearts and minds on accomplishing the task. They did not lose heart or give up, but persevered in the work. If God has called you to a task, determine to complete it, even if you face opposition or discouragement. The rewards of work well done will be worth the effort.
BIBLE READING: Mark 13:1-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13)
PERSEVERANCE REVEALS GENUINE BELIEVERS.
To believe in Jesus and “endure to the end” will take perseverance, because our faith will be challenged and opposed. Severe trials will sift true Christians from fair-weather believers. Enduring to the end does not earn salvation for us, but marks us as already saved. The assurance of our salvation will keep us going through the times of persecution.
BIBLE READING: Hebrews 3:1-19
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. (Hebrews 3:6)
PERSEVERANCE REVEALS GENUINE FAITH.
Because Christ lives in us, we can remain courageous and hopeful to the end. We are not saved by being steadfast and firm in our faith, but our courage and hope do reveal that our faith is real. Without this enduring faithfulness, we could easily be blown away by the winds of temptation, false teaching, or persecution. (See also Hebrews 3:14.)
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Grant, I hear ya and I'll be praying that you find that home. We all need fellow believers to lean on at times, to minister to at others. God bless!
Mimi, I pray your church comes through the trial stronger as a result. Thanks for the comment!
MaKelly, thank you for your comment, I appreciate the scriptural references. |
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