Philippians 1:6 
Being confident of this very that thing He which hath begun a good work in you , will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

DAILY READING –  Acts 19:1-20; Judges 10:1-11:33; Job 39

In the 1968 Olympic Marathon in Mexico City, there was jostling between some runners and John Stephen Akhwari , a Tanzanian runner fell badly. He wounded his knee and his shoulder, his leg was bleeding and his knee was apparently dislocated. However he continued running. Actually, it was a mix of walking and a slow limping. Yet he persisted and  finished last among the 57 competitors who completed the race. The winner of the marathon had finished in 2:20:26. Akhwari finished well over an hour later, in 3:25:27. By then, the sun had set, and there were only a few thousand people left in the stadium. But, as he finally crossed the finish line a cheer came from this small crowd. A television crew was diverted from a medal ceremony and caught this courageous man’s agonizing finish. When interviewed later and asked why he ignored the advice to pull out and continued running, Akhwari said, “My country did not send me 10,000 miles just to start the race; they sent me to finish the race.” And today, hardly anyone remembers the name of the gold medal winner that year, but the name of this runner who endured to the end, has been more remembered. 

As we run the race of life there may be times we are tempted to give up. Challenges can seem sometimes to overwhelm and discourage us. But never forget that it is he that endures to the end that will reap. So no matter the discouragement, do not give up, do not give in. You weren’t created to quit. Dig in your heels and be determined to finish your course. 

Starting sometimes, may be easy, but staying on to the finishing is what can be difficult. Enduring to the end is where the work really is.. Any two people can get married but sticking it out together takes commitment. Any young  woman can have a baby,  but raising that child is work Anyone can have a dream; it takes perseverance to see it come to pass. The question is not will you start, but will you finish?

When we are hit by setbacks along the way, we can get discouraged. However God is called the author and finisher of our faith. He has not only given you the grace to start, He has also given you the grace to finish. Therefore constantly remind yourself  that you are not created to give up or quit – but to finish. Shake off self-pity and discouragement. Keep moving forward  in faith. God, the finisher of our faith, has furnished you  with finishing grace. Tap  into it and decide never to give up. If you don’t quit you will surely win. 

 You have the grace to finish. Don’t accept defeat. Keep pressing forward to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. God who helped you to start, will also help you to finish. He has not left you alone. Therefore never allow yourself to be tempted to give up too soon. It may not be easy, but He that has begun this good work in you is able to perfect it. Challenges will come, but that shouldn’t stop you. Giants are indication that you have arrived your Canaan. The opposition is a sign you’re moving towards the goal. Progress gets the enemy’s attention, he fight those who are making progress on their life assignment. 

And when the going gets tough then the tough get going. Do not look to your own strength, do not look at your inabilities or inadequacies. Looking at yourself will only make your appear as grasshoppers before the giants, because by strength shall no man prevail. You are not going to win by power or by might, but by the empowerment of The Spirit of The Lord. So keep looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. He begun it, He will also finish it for you. Though the enemy tries to hinder or stop your progress, also understand that the greater one lives in you, and through Christ  who is strengthening you from within, you can do all things. 

In Isaiah 43, God says when you  go through the fire, He will be with you. He will never allow the waters to overflow you. He is your keeper on the right hand and on the left. 

So keep pressing forward, into His ordained place for you. Don’t settle for the mediocre or mundane, when God has greater  things in store for you. Tap into the finishing grace, by daily receiving strength from the Word of God. There is power in The Word to propel and bring you to your place in destiny. His word is the joy and rejoicing of our soul.  This joy of The Lord is our strength. It keeps us excited when  we should have been depressed. It gives us confidence, when we should have felt defeated. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, it is by the light from His Word that we see our way forward and know what next to do in every situation. 

No matter how tough it may seem right now, keep pressing forward. Never  stop your journey halfway. There is coming a breakthrough. Do not quit, do not give up, your weeping may have endured through the night but now your joy is coming. Surely there is an end, and your expectations shall not be cut off. Keep holding on to the Word, keep celebrating your God, keep trusting Him. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. [Phil 1:6]. He will surely see you through. His grace to finish well has been released to you. Receive it in Jesus name!  

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to trust you with the journey of my life, no matter how I feel, may I always endure to the end. May I never stop my journey halfway, may I persist until I reach my goal in Jesus Name.   

QUOTE 

God protects and shields us when we are being led by Him. – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]