Relentless Pursuit: A Journey of Determination
Hello Beautiful,
I am so excited you stopped by to spend some time with me. Today, God wants to encourage our hearts by showing us how to pursue determination. This is a season of blessings and fulfilled promises, but with that comes attacks and discouragement. When God is ready to open the floodgates of goodness, the devil starts to show himself in our lives. Every situation seems to crumble. And the people around appear to be distant. God wants us to continue to hold fast to the very thing He promised us without wavering in our belief and trust in Him. Throughout this blog, we will learn what determination is, what determination looks like, and how we can pursue it. So let's get to it.
Determination- firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end
Determined- an adjective that means free from doubt about doing something or fully committed to achieving a goal
Scripture:Â "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
What is Determination?
After reading the definition, we learned that determination is doing something without doubting. This does not mean that fear will not come. It certainly doesn't mean trouble will disappear. Determination is the intention of pressing towards the mark regardless of what comes our way. God wants us to be so determined to do His will, that nothing or no one can move us from His path for us. We have to choose determination. It's not going to fall out of the sky. Determination is shown by each step that we make. As we encounter hardship, our actions show how determined we are by revealing our thoughts and where our hearts are. God is pleased when we are determined to do His will. When God is pleased, there is nothing that He will not do for those who are doing the pleasing. This is the perfect time to see what determination looks like, so keep reading.
Scripture:Â "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
What Does Determination Look Like?
There are so many situations that I can write about, but I want to share a story about my eight-month-old, Kashton. Kashton is a beautiful image of determination. When Kashton was born, he was put on oxygen. Now, Kashton's goal was to be breastfed. My baby had a hard time accomplishing this goal because he had to wear a tube in his nose for 2 months. This tube blocked his sense of smell and feeling what he needed, which confused him on when to latch. This was a very stressful time because Kashton was set on his goal; he wouldn't accept any look-alikes. It took an hour and a half to feed him every feeding. He didn't want a bottle or anything that usually calmed babies down. See, Kashton was so determined to get what he wanted that he didn't mind the struggle. During this time he lost weight and was called small compared to other babies. Although Kashton didn't enjoy the tube he wore, he knew where he would find comfort. He wasn't going to let anything get in his way of getting what he needed. Eventually, the process got easier for Kashton.
Kashton had to be evicted from the boobs at seven months. Mommy was tired!
Determination has a few characteristics. Learning from baby Kashton, one of the characteristics is persistence. Being persistent is to continue to work towards our goals when everything around us appears to be working against us. The Lord says we can do all things through Him that strengthens us. The Lord does not lie. It takes knowing what we need and going for, with God's help, to be successful. Another characteristic is resilience. When trying to achieve our goals, mistakes, and failures happen. Resilience is how we bounce back when these things occur. The last characteristic, I want to mention is being focused. How focused we are on our purpose determines how we are planted in trouble. The devil's biggest attack is distraction. If we keep our eyes focused on God, it is nothing we can not achieve. These characteristics remind us what it takes to push through anything that disagrees with what God has purpose for us.
Scripture:Â "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Scripture:Â "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Scripture:Â "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
The Pursuit of Determination
So, how can we pursue determination? The first step to pursuing determination is knowing what we want to achieve. Once we come to know something, nothing can persuade us. For instance, we know the sky is blue, so no one can convince us that it is green. When know we know. Knowing what we want to achieve looks like communicating and setting goals with God. Can everyone deter us from God's plan? Once we are sure about the goals that we have in place, we need to develop a growth mindset. Think positive. We need to understand that success comes from practice and preservering. To nurture a good mindset we have to be watchful of the company that we keep. If we surround ourselves with people who trust and believe wholeheartedly in God, we will have a life filled with examples and the motivation that we need to keep pushing. The pursuit of determination is as simple as knowing where we are trying to go, keeping our mind focused on God and His plans for us, and being around others who are doing the same.
In Short, God is looking for His people to continue to do what they know to do. The enemy is strategic in all his ways. God wants His people to strategically trust in Him. Things will come to deter us from the plans that God has for us, but God is our reminder of what's right. We have to be so determined to get everything that God has for us that we can welcome the suffering with hope and joy.
Thank you so much for your time! I hope this blog encouraged your heart.
Pastor Quay
Founder of Made Beautiful by God
Join Our Facebook Community
About Us:
Made Beautiful Sisters is a community dedicated to empowering women to embrace their God-given beauty, purpose, and strength. No matter who you are, where you come from, or where you’ve been, you are welcome here.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to support and uplift each other as we navigate the journey of faith and personal growth. We believe that every woman is made beautiful by God and has a unique calling to influence and inspire others.
What We Offer:
Supportive Community: A safe space to share, connect, and grow with like-minded women.
Encouraging Messages: Regular posts that inspire and motivate you to walk boldly in your calling.
Resources for Growth: Access to exclusive content, including blogs, devotionals, and practical tools for personal and spiritual development.
Events and Workshops: Participate in impactful events and workshops focused on faith, leadership, and personal growth.
Join Us:
Become a part of Made Beautiful Sisters and embark on a journey of empowerment, faith, and growth. Together, we can achieve great things and walk confidently in the path God has laid out for us.
Comments