What Could Happen If You Didn’t Give Up?

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself the question, What Could Happen If You Didn’t Give Up? I’m hoping this devo will be all the encouragement you need to keep on, keeping on!

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Soul H2O Devotion

What Could Happen If You Didn’t Give Up?

Yup! That’s a picture of a flat tire and the picture beside is the amazing Heather Ireland; two truck driver, former Biker TV Host and owner of Silverbird Towing, graciously changing my tire as transports are whizzing by.

These pictures were taken on the side of Highway 401 where I had to quickly pull over when I clearly drove over something, causing my tire to blow… after a long day when a relational situation broke my heart just hours before.

Some days are just like that. I find they happen a lot when you’re pushing through, going to a new level, walking toward what God’s called you to do, or making progress to becoming the person God wants you to be.

It’s Not Always Easy

That’s exactly what was happening in my life when these pictures were taken. I was getting ready all day to go away, so I could attend an important ministerial event for our denomination way up in Mississauga. It’s my first one since the 1990’s as I just renewed my credentials in 2022 (OOPS I don’t think I posted about that… for another day). Earlier that day, things just kept going wrong and taking longer than they should have, then the relational upheaval that left me hurt, doubting my identity and questioning if I should be going at all.

The enemy was trying to wear me down and stop me from going but I was wise to his tactics this time.

After only getting 4 hours of sleep I headed out for the meetings. Staying awake when anyone prayed for an extended time was difficult, but pushing through and not letting the enemy steal away from me was worth pushing through every struggle I had to. I left on a high, affirmed in my calling, having received a prophetic encouragement from God, reconnecting with old Bible College friends, and being used by God to share a message of encouragement with a fellow minister.

Powerful Alignment

I was aligning myself with the mission of Paul as he said in Philippians 3:14.

I PRESS ON
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 ESV

The enemy tried to wear me out and get me to give up on doing the right thing but in the end, it was the enemy who was tired out and frustrated because not one of his tactics worked.

I kept moving forward and God was able to do some amazing things. If I’d given up, none of that would have happened.

What Could Happen If You Didn’t Give Up?

Has the enemy been trying to wear you down, so you don’t go there or do that? Don’t let him get you down for the count, remind yourself of what God promises in Galatians 6:9, Don’t get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time you will reap a harvest of blessing… if you don’t give up.

Prayer

Father…I thank you that you’ve put more strength in me than I realize. Help me to grow in faith to believe that I can do all things… In Jesus Name…Amen

Verses to help fill up your well.

Print Out a Soul H2O Journal Page to get the most of this devotion by writing out the Scriptures or what God reveals to you as you read them. Download HERE.

1. Philippians 3:14
2. Galatians 6:9
3. Philippians 1:6
4. Hebrews 11:35-36,39
5. Philippians 4:13

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Feel Like You Don’t Have What It Takes–You Don’t Need To!

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Each time he said,
“My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,
and in the insults, hardships, persecutions
and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
~2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV

The Last decade has been a frenzied, whirlwind of activity. My life has so drastically changed from working in finance to writing, speaking, and blogging. In this past year, I took on co-coordinating The Word Awards. Last year, many of you cheered me on as I received the beautiful glass trophy for the Article-Inspirational/Devotional category. Fast forward one year and I was the one handing out the awards. What a change of events! There was more work involved in running the awards than I had ever imagined. All these responsibilities on top of a busy speaking schedule from April to mid-June left me exhausted. Seriously depleted mentally, physically and spiritually. I wrote to you how I knew I Needed To Fill Up My Well because The INfilling must be greater than the OUTpouring, and I didn’t have any What I didn’t realize is that little breather of a break was not enough when you were completely burnt out. I recognized more than ever that; I Don’t Have What It Takes.

Thankfully, I know someone who DOES have what it takes!

I don’t have enough—but HE is more than enough!

Jesus power works best when we’re weak. When I’m weak, He is Strong. It’s a huge comfort to me, to know that I don’t always have to be strong. I don’t always have to have it under control. When I don’t, God does.

In today’s passage, Paul is telling the Corinthian believers about his struggles. To the people, Paul had it all together. To them, he was the voice of God. Since the printing press hadn’t been created yet, Paul’s listeners wouldn’t have their own copies of the Bible. The had to rely on the Rabbis of their day to read and explain Scripture to them. Since ancient times, people have been putting ministers up on pedestals, but they’re just like everyone else. That’s what Paul was trying to explain to them in verses 5-6 of this chapter. He essentially told them, ‘I Don’t Have What It Takes, but Jesus does.’ Paul had his own set of weaknesses, but he didn’t let those weaknesses keep him down. Paul’s life became power-infused when he stopped trying to get out of the difficult situations and realized that God was working through his weakness, to impact the world.

God’s grace was all Paul needed. God’s grace is all you need. Take it, so you can be strong!

Prayer

Father… I thank You for Your power! Your strength brings me hope. So often I feel weak, weary and incapable—like I Don’t Have What It Takes. Help me to take my focus off of my inadequacies, my weaknesses, and my insecurities. Help me to focus on Your strength, Your grace and Your ability to make me strong when I am weak. You are all I need! In Jesus Name…Amen

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

#Dare2Share Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Ephesians 3:16
Daniel 10:19
Philippians 4:13

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:

MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

I Needed To Fill Up My Well

“Once when he was eating with them, 
he commanded them, 
"Do not leave Jerusalem 
until the Father sends you the gift he promised, 
as I told you before. 
John baptized with water, 
but in just a few days 
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
~Acts 1:4-5 NLT

The last two months have been an amazingly awesome blur. I traveled speaking six out of the past nine weekends and went to NYC for another weekend with my mom and sister. Our first ever trip together!

Speaking at women’s events is what fires me up, but also drains me out.

I’ve been experiencing this increase in ministry all while I’ve been co-coordinating The Word Awards for The Word Guild… you know, the one I won an award for my blog in last year (I mention it here and here)? We’ve also had the WIMM Canada website rebuild and that took a lot of work for our team. Anyways, we had the Awards Gala on Friday night, handing out 48 Awards. By the end of the awards, I was completely exhausted. Actually, whatever word is beyond exhausted, that’s what I was! So, I’m getting this devotion out late today because I needed to fill up my well!

On Saturday I tried to write my Soul H2O devotion, but it just wouldn’t come. It was like trying to draw water from a well that was dry. You can keep priming the pump, but the only thing that’s going to come up is crud from the bottom of the well. That’s where I was at.

So, I thought, I’m just not going to send out a devotion until I have time to refill my well.

Saturday night I got a good night’s sleep. Then, on Sunday morning an old College friend Bob Smickiklas and his son Josiah were preaching at our church. Josiah had just come back from a YWAM Missions trip all fired up. As he told about God’s miraculous power at work healing people both physically and emotionally, I got fired up. Josiah told of how one young girl who was born mute spoke for the first time!

Physical rest, preaching, testimonies and being with other believers started filling up my well. The prayer time after the service was a huge wave of refreshing.

I got another good night’s sleep and woke up revived. Reenergized to read God’s Word. I read this week’s verse during my devotions and it popped off the page! I understand what Jesus was saying to the disciples in Acts 1:4-5, and why. He knew what they were facing in life and ministry. Jesus knew it wouldn’t be easy. He knew the mission was great. Jesus doesn’t suggest, the Bible says He commanded the believers to not go out and do any ministry until they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. An experience I understand as being secondary to salvation since Jesus was commanding believers to wait. Jesus knew we couldn’t do I on our own and that we’d need the empowering of the Holy Spirit to accomplish all God desires for us to do.

[tweetthis]The IN-filling must be greater than the OUT-pouring! [/tweetthis]

God knows what you’re going to face. Only He knows what you need. Only He can fill up your well. Choose today to make choices that will deposit living water in that reservoir of yours!

Prayer

Father…I’m thankful that You can fill up my well. I’m sorry for getting too busy that my reserves are depleted. Help me to make wise choices physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually, to stay refreshed. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Baptize me like you promise in Your Word. I need your strength. In Jesus Name…Amen

Best Post Comment Below:

God has promised to make us a watered garden, but we can’t keep the hose on all the time!

~From Michele Morin michelemorin.wordpress.com

Where I’ll be filling up my well this summer!
Check the website for the speaker schedule: http://www.braesidecamp.ca

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest
Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!

Acts 1:4-5
Acts 1:8
Zechariah 4:6
Luke 12:12

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland ,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie ,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth , Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms , Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead , Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy , Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

Discerning the Best from the Good

“The next morning, Jesus sneaks away. He finds a place away from the crowds, but soon they find Him. The crowd tries their best to keep Him from leaving. Jesus:No, I cannot stay. I need to preach the kingdom of God to other cities too. This is the purpose I was sent to fulfill..”
Luke 4:42-43 The Voice

In this day and age you could be going 24 hours a day, 7 days a week following the demands of people around you. I admire Jesus discernment of the best from the good. I desire to be this discerning but often lack the discipline He had and end up tired and burned out from doing too much.

There are so many good things we can do. Helping a friend or family member…volunteering at church, in the schools, our community..working, cleaning, exercising…The trouble is we simply can’t do them all. When we do, we stop following Jesus’ example, ending up exhausted. When Mark records his account of this event we see what Jesus was doing when he hid away from the crowds. He was praying (Mk 1:37). Jesus made the discipline in His life to take time away from people and pray. It was out of this pulling back and allowing for rest that He was re-energized to fulfill the purpose that the Father had for His life. It was during these times of rest and prayer that brought about discernment for what the Father wanted Him to do next. Jesus refused to be controlled by guilt and sought after purpose.

Check yourself. Are you feeling tired and weary? If so, you’ve been doing too much. Find some time away, lock the bathroom door if you have to! Rest from all those that would try and keep pulling you to help them. Pray and ask God so you can discern the best from the good that your life can make the greatest impact for Him!

Prayer:

Father…Forgive me for not taking the time I should to rest and spend time with you. Help me to prioritize my time with you over anything here on earth. I ask you to provide me with the discernment to know the best from the good and give me boldness to follow through. In Jesus Name…Amen.