Persistence (May 2)

On Saturday, I attended a picnic in Boyce-Mayview Park. Unfamiliar with the area, I checked the location and possible routes on Google Maps. If possible, I like to avoid driving through Pittsburgh, so I modified the route a little bit to avoid some of the uglier traffic. A month or so ago, I purchased a GPS for my car so that I can refer to it if I'm ever in an area that is unfamiliar to me. Well, I stopped at Wal-mart before heading to the picnic and when I got in my car, I told the GPS to take me to the park. Well, the GPS lady wanted me to go a different route than I had already decided on in my head—and she was very persistent about it, too. Every quarter-mile, she was telling me to turn down a different road so that I could loop back and follow her original route. She wanted me to go that way. It wasn't the correct way (according to me opinion on the subject, of course), but she was dead set on me taking this other route. Well, anyway, it got me to thinking about persistence.

Picture this: God has a plan for you and a path for your life. He knows that it's the right way and wants you to follow Him and be obedient in His call. But, you keep persistently wanting to go your own way. “I want to go this way, God! I want to go this way!” He takes you a little further. “But, oh God! This other way makes so much more sense! If I turn around here, I can still loop back and go this other way! It will be quicker—more direct!” Each time, God patiently says, “No, this is the way; walk therein.” How long will we persist in our own way and refuse to go God's way?

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

So... in summary...

Do

Persist in seeking God.

Persist in faith.

Persist in obeying God's call.

Persist in going God's way, no matter how “good” your own way seems.

Don't

Persist in your own way instead of God's way.

Persist in falling to the same temptations.

Persist in listening to the call to leave God's path, even for a moment.