I was walking along the Hudson River on the Hoboken, New Jersey, side with an amazing view of the New York City skyline a little over a week after arriving in the New York City / New Jersey area as my latest stop on the road full-time for Jesus and ministry when I felt strongly compelled to stop and do a little Video Devotional called “Don’t Stop Until God Says So.” Only trouble was it was so windy that the poor sound quality of the video made me think I would be best to delete the Video Devotional rather than share it. But the message stayed on my heart, and I cannot help but share it with you now.
Despite my exceeding passion for loving and serving the Lord with all my heart and giving my ministry work 100%, I am strongly prone to discouragement, downheartedness, frustration, impatience, restlessness, discomfort, feeling yucky, and thinking of quitting. Even in recent days, even on this very day I write this, I have felt beaten down by cold weather, lots of gray days, wind, rain, being tremendously on my own, adjusting to my latest location, leaving behind warm weather and beach ministry in South Carolina, etc.
I have been tempted to “stop” a zillion times over the years, and I know I am not alone in wanting to stop what God has led me to start. Sometimes our flesh just doesn’t want to persevere in whatever we have begun in obedience to God concerning His will for our lives. So I think this message is tremendously important.
Friend, if you are considering stopping whatever you have started for God, if you are clear about His will and have begun walking down the pathway God has set before you concerning something to which He has called you, please don’t stop until – and unless – God calls you to stop.
Two verses come to mind. First, God makes clear following Him means we are not to live for ourselves any longer but for Him!
“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV
Second, the Lord makes clear His followers are NOT to disobey Him. We are to OBEY HIM! The common theme in these verses? OBEDIENCE!
“”But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46 NKJV
But how are we supposed to continue when we’re totally worn out, feeling discouraged and down, feeling like we won’t make it, are tempted to do something easier and more comfortable, can’t muster up the strength, etc.?
Turn to the Lord, turn to His Word, cry out to God, dive deep into the Bible, call upon His name, pray, pray, pray, spend time alone in His presence, ask others to pray for us if and as the Lord so leads us, ask God for and receive from Him all we need to press on, and make the decision to love and obey the Lord. In the strength of Christ, for the glory of Christ, AMEN!
Please don’t stop unless – and until – God says so. Rest assured He will enable you to endure and carry on if it is His will for you to do so!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV