Just Go a Little Farther

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a better view is coming, being sure of God's faithfulness, certainty of God's goodness, encouragement, encouragement to keep hanging on, encouragement to keep walking with Jesus, faith, faith in the Lord, faith the size of a mutard seed, going a little further for a better view, hanging on, hope, how to keep hope alive, how to keep trusting God when things seem hopeless, just keep going, keeping the faith, trusting God, trusting God when things are tough

A friend of mine on Facebook posted this beautiful picture with this caption: “Sometimes you have to walk a little farther to get a better view.”

Isn’t that so true? Oftentimes, I’m in a place of discouragement, but as I keep hanging on to my Savior’s hand, I eventually end up in a place of beauty. I don’t know why it surprises me. After all, this is exactly what He says will happen in His Word. Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him.”

When we go a little farther, our God exchanges a bad view for a great view, a muddled outlook for clarity, mourning for festive oil, captivity for freedom. The list goes on and on. All we have to do is just go a little farther.

As many of you know, my husband and I love to hike. Put some dirt under our feet and we are happy people. I especially love when our destination includes a waterfall.

This past summer, my man and I decided to take a 9 1/2 mile hike that included a massive waterfall. Trekking in, all became worthwhile when we started to hear the roar and then see the utterly spectacular view of this incredible creation. Going out however, well, that didn’t hold the same appeal. Going in, we could say, “Just a little farther and we get to see the Falls.” Going out, all we would see was the parking lot…which eventually began to have its own appeal.

On life’s journey, we don’t know what’s around the bend. We don’t know what the year, or even next month will bring, but when we are abiding in Christ, we know that sometimes we have to walk a little farther to get a better view. We know that when we hold the hand of Jesus, whether it’s the waterfall, or the parking lot, an even better view is coming.

Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”

Psalm 27:13 says, “I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.”

How could the Psalmist be so sure? He was sure because he had walked just a little farther. He was certain that he would see the Lord’s goodness on this earth because he simply kept taking the next step of faith. He was hand in hand with His Savior, straining to see the better view that he knew was coming. He had faith that God had come to him to set him free and change all his despair into realized hope. He just had to walk a little farther.

So, if your year is starting out great, or not so great, you can know that when you go a little farther with Jesus the view will always get better. Keep hanging on to Him, dear one, strain to see the better view, knowing that you “will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.”

** Thank you Cindy Osborne for the picture and caption.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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I Want to be a Bulldog

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battles, breath of God, burdens, calling, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, deep things of God, encouragment, exhaustion, goals, hanging on, perseverance, tenacity, YHWH

I learned something about bulldogs last week that fascinated me. The nostrils of a bulldog actually slant backwards. Bulldogs were created for not letting go. When they are hanging on to something with those massive jaws, they can still breathe. Bulldogs are designed by the God of the universe to hang on! Amazing, isn’t it? YourPureBredPuppy.com says a bulldog’s “tenacity and resolve mean that it’s difficult to change his mind once he decides to do something. He is surprisingly sensitive, remembers what he learns, and responds well to patient, persistent training that utilizes food motivation.” Hmm…food for motivation…I definitely want to be a bulldog. GRIN!

Seriously though, I want to have the tenacity of a bulldog, don’t you? I want to remember all the things that God has taught me over the years. I want to be persistent and cling to the dreams that God has placed in my heart. I want to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word even when everyone around me loses their grip. II Timothy 3:14 says, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” In other words, hang on to what you know! Be a bulldog!

In all honesty, I usually give up too easily. Over the long haul my excitement fades and my perseverance is not all that it should be. The ministry that started out as an exciting dream now just seems like work. I begin to doubt. I get discouraged. I start to lose my grip. I need to be reminded almost constantly that Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” I want to have the resolve of a bulldog, but it does not come naturally for me. So, I have to ask the questions, “How does a bulldog hang on?” “How does he keep a tight hold when everything around him is saying to let go?” “Where does he get his strength?”

I’m beginning to understand that a bulldog can stay locked on to its target because he can still breathe. Our God’s name is YHWH. In the Hebrew language it is said that the pronunciation of YHWH is impossible. It is like the sound of a breath. He is our oxygen, our breath, and He is how we will be able to hang on. We can never hang on in our own strength. It’s always about Him, His Spirit in us.

Isaiah 42:5-12 says, “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Not only does this verse tell us that God gives us breath, but also that He is holding our hands while He is doing it. Think about when we go to the dentist and have an invasive procedure. Oftentimes, we are offered some sort of “laughing gas” to help us be calm. As youngsters, we often not only had the “gas”, but also a parent sitting with us holding our hand. We are God’s children and He is beside us not only providing our breath, but He is also holding our hand. We are never alone. He is with us, providing what we need every step of the way. That’s our precious YHWH.

In the book of Ezekiel we see another example of how God is our strength through His breath. Ezekiel is taken to a valley of dry bones and is told to prophecy to the Breath of God’s Spirit to come into the dead, dry bones and they will come to life. Ezekiel 37 tells us that is exactly what happened. Those brittle, weak, dry bones received new life, new strength and new perseverance through the breath of God’s Spirit. When they could breathe the breath of the Spirit again, they were able to hang on to their original task. They had the strength to continue. We are reminded that it’s never too late to become a bulldog!

So, the next time you see me struggling to hang on to a dream that God has placed inside of me remind me that Acts 17:25 tells me that God gives breath to all things. Remind me that any struggle God calls me to is worth it. Remind me that He will receive glory and remind me that I want to be a bulldog.

I’ll leave you with a link to a song that ties in so well. Enjoy!

Seeking Hearts Ministries