"In warfare and seasons of trouble, there is a quality of suffering and perseverance that actually births in us a greater anointing to work the works of God.  God actually trusts us because He trusts what He sees of suffering inside our heart and life.  We cannot build anything without suffering... Good leadership knows how to suffer; they know about patience and perseverance to stand their ground" --Graham Cooke

God is looking throughout the earth, and He sees those who are steadfast in spirit. Is our spirit steadfast even during times of intense warfare? Do we know how to stand steady in hard times? Are you standing your ground?  It’s not easy to navigate through life with all the uncertainties facing us. It seems that all of life is in a gigantic battle. We go through times of job promotions and losses, prosperity and adversity, love and loneliness. The other day I was simply walking with my husband looking at the beauty of nature when suddenly I stepped on a small round chestnut, lost my balance, and fell on the ground. A little shaken and with a few scrapes and bruises, my husband helped me up and we carefully continued walking steadfastly forward. Little round chestnuts were all over the road. Almost as if they were dangerous land minds, I gingerly stepped around them as we proceeded on our walk. That day I learned a lesson about walking steadfastly. Did you know that Jotham in the Old Testament walked steadfastly before God and grew powerful as a result?   

"Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God" (2 Chronicles 27:6)
 
How do we navigate through such constant change and intense warfare? How do we navigate around the land mines in life? It seems that our inner resolve must be strong. A fixed heart in prayer positions us - strengthening us from within - to receive God's power moment-by-moment and day-by-day. God wants us to stand firm. Obviously while walking with my husband I wasn't standing firm. And what happened? I fell! But I got up quickly and proceeded on, but with a much greater carefulness. Even if we have made a great fall, we can get up and get moving again. But we need to be careful of the land mines. They can be negative thoughts about our own self, God and others that especially tempt us during a difficult time. God will help us to be steady if we resolve to be faithful and steadfast in spirit.  He will renew a steadfast spirit within us.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" ( Psalm 51:10).

My husband is putting many new windows in our house. Windows are important. This life is a small window of opportunity to stand fast in prayer, to choose to love Christ, and to pray in the midst of difficult circumstances. God sees whatever suffering each one of us has to go through in this life.  Suffering and perseverance is an important part of life. When we face suffering, there is a powerful anointing for fellowship with God.  He is inviting us to draw nearer to His heart through it. One of the books I am presently writing is called The Invitation.  God is inviting us into a glorious place of power and relationship, but it’s up to us. Will we pursue His invitation?  Will we be steadfast in seeking Him?  This invitation is the greatest invitation any of us will ever receive in this life. And we all love to be invited to special events by important people.  But the challenge for us is to love God through everything that comes our way. This is where we will find His strength and grace to carry us through.  King David was a man after God’s heart who constantly pursued God with a steadfast heart. We have a window of opportunity right now to pursue God.