Daily Devotional For Monday, March 3, 2025
Well, it is Marvelous Monday and you are possibly back at the grind again. Working, going to school, doing both simultaneously, is stressful and tough. Work alone is tough. It is like getting some kind of exercise or “work out” through the whole day. By the time you are done, you are exhausted and ready to rest. There are some days you might feel like the psalmist in Psalm 88:1-2, “O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out day and in the night before You. (2) Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry!” (NASB).
If you ever go to the gym or work out, you know how exhausting it can be. I exercise because I like the outcome, but I can’t tell you in the middle of a workout that I’m thinking, “Oh, I’m having fun now.” In my case, there are messages coming from all over my body saying, “We’ve had enough of this foolishness. Park it!” I have been a runner and cyclist most of my adult life. There are days I go to run 5-10 miles or more and I can tell you, it is all I can do just to start.
People who coach runners for example tell them that when they get those internal messages to stop, these coaches tell their clients or students, “Decide you’re going to run to the next mailbox. When you get there, run to the next mailbox. Just don’t give up.” When you are learning to persevere in prayer, not all of the messages you hear will be affirming. Everyone will not want to join you. Your prayers may not be answered in the way you expect, or in your timing. Jesus coached His followers to pray and not give up. So, let’s pray, “day and night” … and not give up!
Quitting is easy. Persevering is challenging and rewarding. Many Christians are what I call “adrenaline” Christians rather than “coronary” Christians. What do I mean? Adrenaline is not bad. It gets me through lots of Sundays. But it lets you down on Mondays. The heart is another kind of friend. It just keeps on serving—through good days and bad days, happy and sad, high and low, appreciated and unappreciated. It never lets me down. It never says, "I don't like your attitude, Kelly, I'm taking a day off." It just keeps humbly lubb-dubbing along.
Coronary Christians are the heart in any ministry. Adrenal Christians come with short bursts and then fatigue. What we need today are coronary Chrsitans — people who are the beating heart of making disciples, against abortion, against sex trafficking, against immorality and racial discrimination. What we need today are marathoners, not just sprinters.
This is why we in church need to be cheering each one on to the next “spiritual mailbox.” Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NASB).
Let me illustrate Hebrews 12:1-2 this way below from an article from Runner’s World Magazine:
“Runner's World (8/91) told the story of Beth Anne DeCiantis's attempt to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Trials marathon. A female runner must complete the 26-mile, 385-yard race in less than two hours, 45 minutes to compete at the Olympic Trials. Beth started strong but began having trouble around mile 23.
She reached the final straightaway at 2:43, with just two minutes left to qualify. Two hundred yards from the finish, she stumbled and fell. Dazed, she stayed down for twenty seconds. The crowd yelled, "Get up!" The clock was ticking--2:44, less than a minute to go. Beth Anne staggered to her feet and began walking. Five yards short of the finish, with 10 seconds to go, she fell again. She began to crawl, the crowd cheering her on, and crossed the finish line on her hands and knees. Her time? Two hours, 44 minutes, 57 seconds” (Source: Quoted in Leadership Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 2).
Hebrews 12:1 tells us to run with perseverance. Psalm 88:1-2 tells us to pray with perseverance. Many people are not finishers. They let the slightest issue, challenge, or distraction keep them from finishing. God knows what is best for us, and He works all things together for our good. Persevere in prayer and watch for His hand at work in our lives.
Questions To Consider
- What is something you quit that you wish you had finished and persevered through it. Why did you quit? What is keeping you from finishing today?
- When it comes to your service and ministry to the Lord, are you a coronary Christian or an adrenaline Christian? Why?
- When it comes to your prayer life, do you keep pushing or do you eventually quit? Why?
- What do you need to do to persevere in your faith and ministry for the Lord?
Scripture To Meditate On: Galatians 5:7, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, without Your involvement in our circumstances, we would have no hope. But with You, I can anticipate an outcome far beyond what human effort can achieve. Help me ask for Your help and be faithful to cry out to You both day and night. Lord, help me to persevere for You as a coronary Christian and use me to cheer others to finish as well. May Your Holy Spirit reveal how to pray, and thank You ahead of time for Your faithfulness to hear and answer my pleas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly