And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Amplified)
Thoughts
Have you ever run a marathon, or a 10,000 meter race? There is a tendency among many to give up. . . . to quit. There often comes a point when you are exhausted; every part of your body is aching; you are having trouble getting breath; you are thirsty, and you want to quit. Your body tells you that you can't take the next step--so quit; give up.
But, if you take the next step, if you continue, then you "catch your second wind" and wonder why you even had thoughts of quitting, of giving up, especially when you see the finish line and the crowd cheering. WOW! That takes me back to my younger days.
(Jimmy W)
Action Point
The same principle can be found in spiritual matters. You start the race, then get knocked down. You get up, and the devil attacks you by trying to convince you that this "so-called Christian life" is not worth staying in the race. You want to quit; you want to give up. Listening to his voice, you almost quit, almost give up.
But then, the Holy Spirit comes to give you the second wind, the second opportunity, the second chance. You move on toward victory. You begin to see the finish line, the cheering crowd of fellow believers, and Jesus standing ready to crown you with the words found in Matthew 25:21, "His Lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord,' " (NKJV).
Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
When searching for pheasants or other upland birds, ask yourself two questions: Where's the cover? Where's the food? The area between food and cover (called the edge) is a good place to start when surveying a field for birds. Don't concentrate on where you've known birds to be in the past. Be flexible and patient in your search. Last, but not least, pay attention to the cues from your bird dog.
