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| Tenacity |
Dutch Sheets shares with us, “Brother John Garlock, one of my professors at Christ for the Nations Institute, [taught] on the subject of tenacity.
Brother Garlock mentioned the story found in (2 Samuel 23:8-12) about three of David’s mighty men: Shammah, Adino and Eleazar.
Shammah had tenacity in the face of a humble assignment, defending a small plot of lentils from a bunch of Philistines.
Adino personified tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds as he killed 800 Philistines single-handedly. Eleazar pictured tenacity in the face of incredible overwhelming fatigue as after fighting for several hours, his hand had to be pried from his sword.
[Do you remember the story about the two frogs that fell into a can of cream? One gave up trying to get out and drowned, but the other kept on swimming and eventually he could jump out from the butter he’d made by being persistent. The professor had mentioned this story.]
“Thanks, Professor Garlock, for teaching me through three men and a frog the importance of perseverance and endurance. I rank it near the top of my list of most important spiritual traits.
And the longer I live, the higher it rises. ‘Hang in there’ didn’t make it into the Ten Commandments, but it did into the nine fruits of the Spirit.
The word makrothumia, translated, “long-suffering” in (Galatians 5:22 KJV), is defined by Strong’s Concordance as ‘longanimity or fortitude.’ That’s what I said, ‘Hang in there.’
Dick Eastman, in his book No Easy Road, states:
“Much of society has forgotten to persevere….Few have a striving spirit like the artist Raphael. Once he was questioned, ‘What is your greatest painting?’ He smiled, saying, ‘My next one.’ One finds Raphael always striving to do better. This is what we need in prayer, an attitude of persistence.”
Today's post #88- Lessons from Three Men and a Frog, taken from Dutch Sheets’ book, Intercessory Prayer (pgs. 196, 197)
Next Prayer Note 11/13- Easy Doesn't Do it in Prayer: Prayer Note #89 Dutch Sheets
Tomorrow’s post: The Journey Begins with Want Linda Ronde
Today’s treasure truth #29: If you are “born again”, you are an over comer by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony. (Rev. 12:11)
Our thought today: Set your mind for success. Speak affirming words to yourself!
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