Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ,

if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

 

REX Johnson – one of my favorite REX Johnson stories – (he is a pastor down in Austin Tx.)

Story of the old Bull Dog – determined to prove he was the toughest – when challenged by 2 Doberman pinchers that moved in 2 yards down…

·        Tenacity – resolve / persistence / doggedness

·        Having Bull Dog tenacity –

 

Story of Cornelius in Acts 10:

Act 10:44-48 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

This was the REWARD of Cornelius’s PERSISTANT FAITHFULLNESS

 

Act 10:30-31 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man (in Angel) stood before me in bright clothing, (31) And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

 

Act 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, (2) A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

 

He was a GENTILE – yet he PRAYED with BULLDOG TENACITY to the GOD of the HEBREWS…

 

And you know what? – it paid off –

Andy Andrews – wrote a book that publishers wouldn’t touch. Mortgaged what his condo and sold 100 thousand on his own…

Went back to publishers and they excepted that they had missed the boat but were convinced he’d sell no more –

Sold another 100k and the publishers told him exactly the same thing…

Sold another 100k … same thing …

After he had sold over 600,000 copies on his own …. And pocketed 7.5 mill – he decided it wsa probably ok to do it on his own…

 

Stories of Success through persistence are a dime a dozen – in our world as well as in the scripture …

·        Bart Star – everyone told him he couldn’t make it… but some of you know who I’m talking about…

·        Abraham is the Father of our faith – NOT because it came to him on a silver platter – it took a lifetime of sacrificial faithfulness –

·        some of you would be shocked to know that … Amy Grant sang a whole concert in a book store – where she was scheduled to sing and sign autographs … no one showed up – even her mother left…

·        Erik Weihenmayer made the cover of TIME MAGAZINE as the 1^st blind person to climb mount Everest… did not want to be remembered as a person with a handicap

·        Do you know – that you have in within you – the DNA of the champion of Bulldog persistence – If you have received JESUS you have the makings of being known as one that JUST WILL NOT QUIT … JESUS was NOT A QUITER… even friends thought that he was crazy –

 

Mark 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

 

 

WHAT is it that YOU’D like to do? But your more confident in failure than you are in success?

 

What is it that you thought that you’d of accomplished by now… and haven’t …

Make a list …

1.

2.

3.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said – “always do what your afraid of.”

 

What if you DID what you were afraid of ? …

What would happen –

DO NOT LET FEAR direct your path –

Walk in FAITH…

 

Remember Walking in house while turning out the lights… kinda painted myself into a corner of darkness – had to walk in darkness for a moment before my eyes adjusted..

 

THIS IS HOW WE KEEP on going … 2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

Go on fight the good fight – but fight it with BULLDOG TENACITY –

You are fathers child – and HE WAS NOT A QUITER…

 

 

 

Affirmation #7

The Persistent Decision ~ I Have Persistent Persona

 

I will persist without exception.

 

Knowing that I have already made changes in my life that will last forever, today I insert the final piece of the puzzle.

 

 

Today, I choose to persist without exception.

 

 No longer will I live in a dimension of distraction, my focus blown hither and yon like a leaf on a blustery day. I know the outcome I desire. I hold fast to my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit.

I will persist without exception.

 

I will continue despite exhaustion.

I acknowledge the fact that most people quit when exhaustion sets in. I am not “most people”.

I am stronger than most people. Average people accept exhaustion as a matter of course. I do not. Average people compare themselves with other people. That is why they are average. I compare myself to Jesus – I am striving to be like HIM and not another. I am not average.

I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory.

 

How long must a child try to walk before he actually does so? Do I not have more strength than a child? More understanding? More desire? How long must I work to succeed before I actually do so? A child would never ask the question, for the answer does not matter. By persisting without exception, my outcome – my success – is assured.

I will persist without exception.

 

I focus on results.

To achieve the results I desire, it is not even necessary that I enjoy the process. It is only important that I continue the process with my eyes on the outcome. An athlete does not enjoy the pain of training; an athlete enjoys the results of having trained.

A young falcon is pushed from the nest, afraid and tumbling from the cliff. The pain of learning to fly is quickly forgotten as the falcon soars to the heavens.

A sailor who fearfully watches stormy seas lash his vessel will always steer an unproductive course. But a wise and experienced captain keeps his eye firmly fixed upon the lighthouse. He knows that by guiding his ship directly to a specific point, the time spent in discomfort is lessened. And by keeping his eye on the light, there never exists one second of discouragement.

My light, my harbor, my future is within sight!

I will persist without exception.

 

I am a person of great faith.

Jeremiah, (29:11 NIV) my Creator declares,

“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

From this day forward, I will claim a faith in the certainty of my future. Too much of my life has been spent doubting my beliefs and believing my doubts. No more! I have faith in my future. I do not look left or right. I look forward. I can only persist.

For me, faith will always be a sounder guide than reason, because reason can only go so far – faith has no limits.

 

I will expect miracles in my life because faith produces them every day.

I will believe in the future that I do not see.

That is faith. And the reward of this faith is to see the future that I believed.

I will continue despite exhaustion. I focus on results.

I am a person of great faith.

 

 

I am MY FATHERS CHILD – I am NOT A QUITER

I will persist without exception.

 

 

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