Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:4, 5 NIV

Have you ever found yourself putting off a challenging task until the last minute or indefinitely? I know I have.

Why do we do that? Is it lack of self-confidence, fear of failure, laziness, or seriously not wanting to tackle something difficult? When we put it off, the task just gets heavier and heavier in our minds every time we think about it.

A recent challenge led me to the discovery that if I just go ahead and tackle the chore, it usually is not as hard as I thought it would be. Also, the rewards of doing it far outweigh the dread I let build up beforehand.

Scripture memory – I had convinced myself I could not do it. I must admit though, my halfhearted attempts did not get me any closer to accomplishing it. Finally, my foolishness caught up with me. I knew God wanted me to memorize his powerful Word. I knew his intentions for me to do so empowered me to live my Christian life. I determined to do it with his help.

First, I prayed earnestly about success in memorization. I also got friends involved in praying for me about it. That gave me friendly accountability. Next, I decided on a plan I felt God inspired. Lastly, I stuck to that plan wholeheartedly.

Why did it surprise me when it worked? We prayed, I prepared. We planned, I proceeded. He rewarded my diligence and willingness to cooperate with him and get it done by walking with me through it. What an awesome experience!

God, I know you want us to persevere when it comes to challenges. You want us to mature in our walk with You. I also know You do not expect us to do it on our own. We praise Your Name for your faithfulness – wholeheartedly!

Susan Partida