PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

TO PONDER

There are times when I wish I could just stop being and adult. There are days, when I just wish I could abandon all my adult responsibilities and just selfishly indulge just in the things that I love doing; fishing, barbecuing, somedays even just to do some more sleeping would be welcome! However, we all know that doesn't work, even when we take holidays, there are simply tasks that have to get done.

So I persist, I keep striving, I get up every morning because I have hope. Hope that today will be different. Hope that today I might help someone meet Jesus. Hope that today, just as every day before, no matter how bad that day might have been, Jesus will get me through it and see me safely to tomorrow.

I have noticed in my previous career as a teacher, that this is often a marker of maturity. Most children, up until a certain age (and an increasing number of adults too for that matter) have a tendency to just avoid or give nut on tasks that they find difficult or not enjoyable. "I can't do this, it's too hard" was not an uncommon thing to hear in the primary school classroom. I learned that a good way to correct that thinking was to simply remind students that what they were experiencing was certainly a challenge, but rather than allowing them to say "I can't do it", I'd remind them instead that, 'You just can't do it yet'. One little three letter word makes all the difference.

What you don't feel strong enough for today, you might just find you have the strength for tomorrow. The problem you can't solve today, might just have the solution present itself to you if you keep chasing it. Press on with whatever task God has called you to and equipped you for. You may not see how to do it yet, but God is growing and preparing you every time you get up and have a go.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Sometimes it just seems like there is too much to do, or the mountain of tasks ahead is just overwhelmingly huge. Yet you told your disciples that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed, they could tell the mountains to throw themselves into the sea and it would happen. Lord help me to trust and have faith that you will see me through all the tings I have to do today and every other day also. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.