DETERMINATION

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

DETERMINATION

(Luke 9:51) Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

Would you categorize yourself as a determined person? One who resolves to do something and doesn't get sidetracked no matter what? Do you attack your problems with fortitude and grit? Or maybe you feel just the opposite. You tend to avoid difficult situations and hope they just kind of go away. And when they don't you feel uncomfortable and agitated as to the long term prevalence of your problem. You then weaken and wilt and fall prey to your anxiety and feel like a victim of the "system." If you're the latter (like a lot of us) then you need to learn determination!

So many people speak of Passion Week when Easter comes around beginning with Palm Sunday and then ending with Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But did you know that Jesus was determined to go the cross long before He arrived in Jerusalem? Months before He was up in Galilee away from the hostile religious leaders down in Jerusalem. Then Luke tells us that the time had come for Jesus to be received up. Jesus then steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Later He arrived and kept His focus all the way to the cross.

What kind of obstacle might be in the way in your life currently? Are you facing a health issue? Is there a difficult relationship you are dealing with? Is there a mountain of complexities and perplexities that is overwhelming you and you are wanting to flee from it all but you can't? Then you need the Lord to make you a determined person and trust that He will navigate you through your hardships. (Heb 2:10)

Sometimes we are forced into an arena of life that we wouldn't choose otherwise. But this may be the Lord who is trying to teach us His power in difficult situations. Instead of relying on willpower it is time then to rely on God's power! We've tried in the past to do it on our own but we have failed miserably. Now it's time to lay claim on the promises from God's Word.

Zerubbabel faced the incredible task of rebuilding the Temple but was answered with: (Zech 4:6-7) ...“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!... Abraham and Sarah were facing infertility yet God had said they were to have a son of promise: (Gen 18:14) Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Daniel was determined to live a pure and holy life in the midst of a defiled pagan nation: (Dan 1:8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Once we understand God's power we can then be determined to keep moving forward as we watch the Lord topple the mountains in front of us. He will make smooth our paths ahead of us but not until we decide to walk down that road in faith.

Make determination work for you in a positive way. You're either determined to go ahead in life or you are determined that there is no way you can. Either way you make a choice and walk down a road. The time has come for you to set your face toward your "Jerusalem" and never turn back. It will be worth the trek!

Louie