Saturday July 23



“Here on earth you will have many trials.”  Jn 16:33 NLT

Staying power (2)

Two more reasons you need to develop staying power are: (1) It overcomes prolonged illness. When sickness saps your physical, emotional, and mental strength—that’s when you need staying power. The Bible says, “The strong spirit of a man [or woman] sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?” (Pr 18:14 AMP). Charles Spurgeon was known to multitudes as “the prince of preachers.” His ministry impacted London and much of the British Isles. Yet he was so sick that he had to spend a lot of his time resting in Southern France. His wife, who became an invalid after the birth of their twin sons, transcended her physical limitations with staying power. Though paralyzed, she directed from her bed an unprecedented book distribution effort. And it’s largely because of her staying power that Spurgeon’s books are on the shelves of more people around the world than the books of most other ministers. (2) It overcomes financial limitations. George Müller, who founded homes for orphans in England, is a prime example of staying power. He saved the lives of thousands of children, and he did it by faith. Many times he didn’t have the money to buy food for their next meal, but he never complained. Instead he prayed. And in response to his faith, money poured in from all over the world, much of it from people he never knew. Müller lived by the scriptural principle: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Ro 12:11-12 NIV).