Dear Peppers 2: Don't Quit - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) March 24, 2023

Walking with God isn't easy. In fact, if we're to be honest, the very choice to 'rock' with God brings on a unique series of challenges that we never could have anticipated.

All of a sudden, you can't spend your money and time as you used to. Same thing with how you dress and what you watch on TV. There you are trying to be good and not use foul language when that random person gets in your face for no reason and your 'Before Christ' self is begging you to tag them in like it's a tag-team wrestling match! (Be honest, you are often tempted to let that side of you keep things a little too real, right?).

Time goes by with you trying to be good but, more often than not, you feel like you're failing. An annoying voice in your head asks, "Is this really worth it?" More time goes by and that voice perks up again, saying, "you can never be good enough. Why bother?" You hush that voice of doubt each time but soon, it takes you longer and longer to silence it.

Listen, what you're experiencing is normal. Every Christian - no matter how long their walk and no matter the level of spiritual food they digest (be it milk or solid) can attest to going through similar episodes. Those moments where they question whether they will ever be able to say like Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7).

Never forget, however, Apostle Paul - who wrote a majority of the books in the New Testament - struggled too. He confessed that he was tormented. He was also arrested and beaten multiple times because of his faith. And despite all this, He trusted God. He fought to keep serving the Lord.

The Bible tells us that none of us is going through anything unique (1 Corinthians 10:13). Our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ also have tales to tell of their journeys that would likely make us grateful for our own experiences, no matter how tough they've been.

Remember that satan will attack you all because you signed up to be in the Lord's army. That should not keep you from taking another step with God. You need to be stubborn and commit to not letting satan win. You have to have a 'Not today, satan' attitude and keep moving with God no matter what the enemy throws at you.

Nobody said it would be easy but the more you listen to God's voice, the more He helps you avoid all the traps the devil sets in the way.

The Lord will help us all. We shall remain firm to the end, not abandoning our faith but growing in His strength, IJMN Amen.

Jude 1:24-25 - To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.