Don’t Give Up

The world’s definition of success is relative to temporary circumstances. God’s definition of success is that we end up living forever with Him! 

The phrase “don’t give up” is important in many ways. It is the key for success in our life. This is also true of our spiritual life. When we fail, then we have been doing things in a negative manner through these three ways: 

1. We give up the hope in God’s love. It is important, not to prescribe to God how He should love us. If we do so, then we will be disappointed and discouraged. This will lead to failure due to mistrust. We should work in God’s plan because He never gives up. If we give up, then we are trouble as Satan will try to discourage and disappoint us. When we are disappointed, then we will fail. However, if we give up, then who will give us the good gifts? (James 1) 

2. We give up the hope in other people. We fail because we give up on those who love us. In the moment that we turn away from them we will slowly lose the power to lead a successful life. 

3. We give up the hope in our self. We give up because of disappointment with ourselves. If we say, “I can’t do it”, then we are in trouble and we will fail. The result is chaos in our thoughts and in our actions. To destroy us, Satan attacks us at these points: 
– God made someone else more special than me. 
– God’s ways and wisdom are too difficult for me; maybe it is for someone else. 
– It is a lifelong battle to believe in the wisdom of God. We think that we know better because we can plan our outcomes more effectively. 
– Relationships with our Christian brothers and sisters and friends are too difficult. It is easier to keep them superficial. 
– In how we think and act towards ourselves and others, thinking that was a dumb mistake. They will never forgive me so I cannot forgive myself either. 

So, how can we be successful? Trust in God that He holds everything in His hand. Everything that God does is good for us. The one who tries to understand God will lose Him; the one who loves God will win Him. Our believing God and loving God leads to success. Our ego [pride] separates us from God and others and leads us to failure. 

4. Loving our brothers and sisters brings life. When we believe in them, good gifts will flow back and forth. We can believe in them because we have believed in God to help us to deal with the failures of life. People will fail us but God always has the solution. This kind of attitude will help us to have long lasting relationships with people. 

We receive easier when we are giving. Our relationship to God and to our fellow man is the foundation for success. In every successful relationship there is a balance between taking and giving. 

5. To be able to have that relationship, I must get to know God, my fellow man and myself. We often give up because we have wrong ideas about ourselves and how others feel about us. We have the wrong goals and priorities, and we value material things above people and relationships. 

We fail to ask God regularly for His wisdom on who we are; so, Satan frustrates us to failure. Satan declares disappointment and defeat in our lives by giving us a lifestyle of worry and anxiety. The Holy Spirit reveals to us, what God thinks about us: He loves us! However, if nobody else says that they love us, then we can become lonely. One can have the strength that we are loved and overcome our circumstances. However, we need three things. We need God, our fellow man and a belief in ourselves that God will make us a success. We need to remember that it is only the opinion of God that will matter. Man may judge us only for a short time. God’s judgment will last for an eternity. 

The last thing that is needed for success is trust! This is an advantage for all who practice it daily. God will help us to trust. Are we ready to finish the race, to trust God with His help? It is God who enables us to finish the race with eternal success. 

Scripture references are as follows: 
James 1:2-12 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the pIant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” 
Job 17:9 Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger. 
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.” 
Gal. 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 
1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 
Rev. 3:11 “l am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”