“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”

— Proverbs 23:7, KJV

Paul believed that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him, and he changed the world. But many Christians today never claim this promise or virtually any other promise in the Word of God. Sadly, they live lives with a trail of many defeats.

In fact, I think it can certainly be said that before any man is beaten at any task, whatever it may be, he first of all is beaten in his own mind. True grit is something that is given to us in part by the spirit of God, something also that must be cultivated.

One psychologist advised keeping the faculty of effort alive in us by a little gratuitous exercise of the soul each day. He says to do something every day that is a little heroic or arduous for no other reason than that you would rather not do it, and, thus, develop your soul. And let no man despise, he says, these unimportant efforts at self-discipline, they forge character. We talk a great deal about bad habits, but there are good habits that need to be cultivated and inculcated in our children. A man who stands by his guns, who stands fast, is generally a man who has learned to do this over a long period of time. God uses different types of people, including those who never quit in what they believe God wants them to do, despite the obstacles.

Lord, give us strength today to do something we would rather not do. Please develop strong Christian character within us. Show us clearly what small act of heroism we can do today and give us the strength to follow through…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, OUR
CHARACTER IS BUILT.