Determined – Decided - Dogged

“…Wherever you go, I will go;

 wherever you live, I will live

Your people will be my people,

and your God will be my God.

Wherever you die, I will die,

and there I will be buried.

May the Lord punish me severely

if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.” 

Ruth 1:16-18 (nlt)

“Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by [eating his portion of] the king’s rich and dainty food or by [drinking] the wine which the king drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8 9 (amp)

Determined. Decided. Dogged. Resolved. Committed.

I admire Ruth and Daniel so much. They decided and committed to follow through with their resolutions with steadfast determination. They set their sights on a goal, and stayed the course.

Many people make “New Year’s Resolutions” only to fall short of them quickly. [This would be why I stopped making them.] We don’t have the steadfast heart and mind to truly commit our way.

Steadfast and unwavering. Made up your mind. Stood firm on your decision.

 

Sadly, this is true in the Christian walk. Like Ruth and Daniel, we desire in our hearts and minds to follow Jesus and live our lives according to His word. But then life gets tough our resolve shifts in the sand instead of standing firm on the foundation. We compromise. We fall.

This is when I’m reminded that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23)… “But God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)… “For by grace you’ve been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)

So, each day I determine in my heart and mind to take up my cross and follow Jesus…and may take three steps forward and two steps back,)…and each night ask His forgiveness for following short again…as I press on toward the goal of His calling upon my life. (Philippians 3:14-16

Don't give up!!! Stay determined. decided, dogged...

One Step at a Time

 Further reading: – Ruth 1:15-18; Daniel 1:3-9; Isaiah 39:5-7; Acts 10:9-16 

“Only a Mountain” by Jason Castro