Day 6: Prevail and Succeed

Perseverance is crucial when you are going after the prize. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9:25, "Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that withers away, but we run to win a prize that never fades."

What prize are you seeking from God during this time of preparing for great exploits?

Is the prize you need related to your job, business, relationships, health, or achievements? Whatever the prize is that you desire to receive, you can be assured that our God will prove Himself your Faithful Father. 

John describes it like this: "If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). Talk about being faithful! That is the faithfulness of God—to always answer your prayer! Of course, He does ask us to do something also. There IS a condition to this promise, and that condition is simply this: "If you remain in Me."

What does it mean to remain in God?

To remain means "to endure, to persist, or to last." When you remain in God, staying focused on being faithful to the calling and gifts that He has given, then we will find that everything else will line up according to God's will and His plan. 

Samuel remained faithful to Saul UNTIL God told Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as King over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king" (1 Samuel 16:1).

David was also faithful. David was going to be king over Israel whether Samuel, Jesse, or David's brothers liked it or not. God had said so, and David stayed faithful to the vision God had given!

When God has chosen to bless you, there are not enough naysayers in the world to change His mind. 

Our job is simply to stay faithful and steady at the wheel, continuing to stay in the lane in which the Holy Spirit has placed us.

God has always had a man or woman that He could trust to do His business, and He always will.  One of those faithful people was the apostle Paul. God used Paul to show Himself faithful in so many dire situations. There were many times that Paul could have given up, but he remained faithful to the call upon his life. 

Paul wrote that some of the dilemmas and situations he faced included:

• far greater labors and more numerous imprisonments than other people faced;


• countless beatings, being often near death;


• five times he received 39 lashes with a whip—from the Jews, no less;


• being beaten with rods three times and stoned once;


• being shipwrecked three times;


• drifting at sea for a night and a day;


• frequent journeys with dangers from river crossings and robbers;


• danger from his own people and from the Gentiles;


• danger in the city, in the wilderness, and at sea;


• danger from false brethren;


• toil and hardships;


• many sleepless nights, as well as hunger and thirst;


• cold and exposure to the elements; and


• the daily pressure of anxiety about all the churches, on top of all that!

No disciple suffered more for the cause of Christ than Paul, and yet he remained faithful.

I believe that God is raising up a Body of believers who will stand the test of time. These believers will be found faithful to the cause of Christ, no matter what. They will prevail and succeed. 

Are you one of these end-time warriors? I believe you are! I believe you are going to do great and mighty works for the cause of Christ as well. Check back tomorrow as we continue discussing HOW you can go about doing that.