As I look back over my life, my childhood was a good one. I grew up in a loving family, parents who worked hard, protected us, provided for us all while giving us their best. I am grateful.
I look back at my challenges and hard times through those years. I have discovered the insecurities and timidity that surrounded me and affected my thinking. These were not things my parents gave me nor wanted for me. These came through the different experiences and shaping moments of my journey. I remember being enrolled in a different elementary school almost every year. The feelings of loneliness and unacceptance were stacked up with every new school.
These rejections would continue through middle school. We moved to a new state in the 6th grade. This was a transition I did not like. My Dad encouraged me to play basketball. I am tall. He loved the sport and played ball himself. Naturally, this would be for me. I was awkward but with hard work, and practice I improved. One thing I lacked was confidence and fight. All those years of rejection can mess with your confidence and your belief in yourself.
In basketball, you will get run over every time with a timid disposition. My mom would encourage me to fight for the ball when rebounding and not give up so easily. Apparently, it was an obvious problem.
I remember the game I had had enough of being walked over. Something went off inside of me… Fight! I fought for that ball refusing to let it go! I could hear my mom’s voice cheering me on. This stood out to me at that moment for it was always my father’s voice I would usually hear. It was a moment that began needed change in my life.
By the time I was in high school, I was burnt out with basketball and moved my attention to tennis. All those lessons were priceless and began to remold the picture I had of myself.
It would not be till my freshman year of college that I would finally bloom and really find out who I was. I discovered I had passion in many areas of my life and the desire to go after them. Not just for me but for those around me. It was such a good feeling to find me!
Even now stories flood my mind, they are great reminders. Reminders that giving up is never an option you should take!
I heard it said recently that most people give up with only having given a 60% effort. This is the point it seems hard, or may require more work, or it may seem impossible to complete or conquer; however, you still have 40% more to give!
What could change or what could we accomplish if we would give the rest of our effort? If we fought a little longer? How many more victories could we have to tell about or show?
The following portions of scripture are pulled from Romans 8: 4-16 (TPT). I am inspired when I read it. We have a choice! Here are the highlights…
So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!
5 Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities. 6 For the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mindset controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.
9 But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit.
10 Now Christ lives his life in you!
12 So then, beloved ones, the flesh has no claims on us at all, and we have no further obligation to live in obedience to it. 13 For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.
14 The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. 15 And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” 16 For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we don’t have to give in to what the world throws us nor our own flesh! Verse 12 is powerful! When we get this picture, we get our grit. There are so many other scriptures that confirm this!
We can accomplish quite a bit in our own strength, but look what we can accomplish when we team up with the dynamic power of God! When we allow Holy Spirit to work along our side. It is your choice! What will you choose? Will you find your grit?
