Monday Motivational - Press Onward

                                                                 Monday Motivational – Press Onward
 
      Welcome to another Monday Motivational guys! I hope that your week has gotten off to a great start so far. It is supposed to be a somewhat rainy week, so prepare yourself for that now and make the best of it as it comes! I know you didn’t decide to read this post because of my intuitive weather app reading skills though. Instead lets dive into what this Monday Motivational is about this week. I want to take a moment to be completely transparent with you and let you know that last week was a rough week for me all around. I have felt physically ill, mentally exhausted, and spiritually discouraged—perfect combination right?
 
    I thought I was just having a rough few days and that it would all pass, but as the week went on I found my situation remaining the same. I am sure that this is not an experience specific to me, so if you have ever found yourself going through a week or phase of life similar to the one I have been going through don’t feel alone. Have confidence that fellow believers are in your corner and ready to carry that burden with you. One of the guys in my bible study last Thursday said that he was going to pray for us to lean into God more often and have an understanding of how much we need to lean into God as a first option rather than a last resort. I am not sure how that prayer affected the lives of the other guys in our bible study, but it was clearly needed and impactful in my life last week.
 
    I was encouraged in my reading of 1 Thessalonians this morning that the only real option we have when going through a rough patch of life is to press onward. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 1 through 4 says, “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (ESV) In our walk with Christ we will face much conflict, suffer, and be treated shamefully in ways that are not precisely like Paul’s, but in ways that are parallel. Paul did not show a desire to give up during these times, but rather “had a boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in midst of much conflict”.
 
     When we find ourselves in the midst of a rough patch it is crucial that we press onward. As believers giving up or throwing in the towel to suffering and conflict cannot be an option. We have been entrusted with the same gospel that Paul was entrusted with so we must “speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” with the same boldness. Throughout this week, whether things are going great or things seem hopeless, make leaning into God a priority from the start and not a last resort. Make pressing onward a habit that is founded in the faith you have in God’s control and sovereignty in your life!
 
Happy Monday guys!