For those in places in these times, who are still being jailed, persecuted, and martyred for their faith, these scriptures are strong encouragement not to give up. Jesus himself endured death on the cross, so he knows what dear saints are going through in places like China, Sudan, Nigeria, Viet Nam, North Korea, and places like this where Christianity is hated and punished with severity by ungodly rulers with no fear of God. On the other hand, in places like England, Australia, the United States, (which are anything but united), and places in Europe, where people can still worship freely, the worst adversity they suffer is for the most part not in their flesh, for they are not martyred, or jailed or beaten for their faith. But they suffer a flood of the enemy against their mind, and their eyes, temptations abound, often ridicule on the job, and by an increasingly hostile society that hates the name of Christ and all he stands for. The enemy is trying to steal their faith, and discourage them from persevering, from enduring to the end so they won't be saved. What a tragedy to have succumbed to the lies of the enemy and thrown your hands up in despair, and have to one day soon face the Master, who with pity in his eyes shook his head and sadly say, "Why did you not believe, oh ye of little faith?"

Those who give up and walk away in defeat, are by their behavior conceding to the devil and come into agreement with him that God is a liar and can't do what he said he would. To surrender faith in trials and adversity is to surrender all hope of deliverance, not only for the one who surrenders, but for their loved ones that are lost as well. It's like the captain of the ship in the storm, who gets tired of trying to steer the vessel through the storm and just walks away from the wheel, tired of trying to keep the ship on course, and lets it be wrecked. All on board will perish for the decision of that captain.

Through patience, and comfort of the scriptures, we have hope. Patiently waiting until God's purposes are fulfilled as his word declares they will be. No wonder he says we are to live by faith, not sight. Not feelings. Those who took heed to the word of God and surrendered to the captivity lived. Those who rebelled were destroyed. And their seed. Remember king Zedekiah, how Jeremiah warned him to surrender, and go, and he would not and when the enemy come in, the soldiers captured him, slew his sons in front of him and then put out his eyes? And he was taken anyway?

Lord, how did I get on all this? All I know is the pressure against our minds can be horrendous. I have experienced it lately, in a way that is worse than ever. When it's so hard to pray, so I don't, and then that just gives the enemy more ammunition, to accuse me with. When the litany in the mind is "haven't you had enough? You can't enjoy life with all this stuff going on, things were much better before. Go back there, you'll find relief in the things you used to do. The life you used to live. Go back. This isn't working like that Book you think so much of says it will. Look around you. It's a joke. You're a joke. A failure. You missed God. You don't even know him, you're just deceived. You can't even talk to him now, it's been so long since you were faithful in your prayer life, just thinking about him isn't enough. You don't pray like you should, you ain't given him your best, and you know he won't accept less. You're all washed up."

I thank God for that scripture. It has held me up and helped me to my knees more times than I care to admit to. It is blessedly true. It's full of hope. He is my Blessed Hope. Him in me is my only hope of glory. Oh, thank you Jesus....And it encourages me to return, again and again. It keeps me coming back.

He says back in Hebrews, lay aside every weight. Lay aside the enemy's lies, lay aside every burden that loads you down, the word says cast them on him, he will sustain us.

The sin which besets us, he can subdue.

There, in those two scriptures lies more help than we will ever need to overcome sin. He overcame, he is above all, there is nothing He can't handle if we bring it to him instead of trying to deal with it ourselves, and Lord, you know I am preaching to myself here...for I am guilty, and I thank you for showing me how to surrender it to you and let you have it. For I cannot handle it. It's not in man to order their own steps.

Don't I know how true that is!!! When ever I try, I fall flat on my face. It does not work. He says let us run with patience, and that translates, cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy, waiting. Let us run with patience the race set before us. In the Greek, race means assembly, contest, conflict, fight. A race. Keep it ever in our minds what we are doing, where we are going, and Who is on our side. And that we have a great cloud of witnesses watching us. In the spiritual realm, both good and bad, as well as our families and friends and co workers, and those around us in such need.

When we are weary and discouraged, we need to look to Jesus, he was the one who began our faith, when we got saved. He was the beginning. He is the end of our faith. That word "Author" here it means " a chief leader, captain, prince." "Finisher" means " a completer, consummator." He despised having to submit to the degradation and shame of the cross. But for the joy the Lord set before the Son of God, he endured. What was that joy? Scripture says there is joy in heaven among the angels when a sinner repents. The cross was about redemption. Death of the power of sin over our lives. Opening the way into the holy of holies, giving us all equal access by faith to the Father. And now, Jesus is set down at the right hand of the Father.

He says consider Him, when I am tired, and my mind is battered and weak. When I am weary, I can draw strength from knowing he endured much more than I, and he did it for me, to bring me to himself, to help me know he is all I will all ever need. Wearied means to tire, faint, sicken. But faint itself means to relax. When I get tired of the fight, when I am weak, his strength is made perfect in weakness.

Faith in his word strengthens.

I just have to remember these things, and he gave me the Holy Spirit to help me remember, and teach me how to stand on these precious promises. So that in standing on these promises, I can partake of what he has-his Divine Nature, his awesome power to conquer anything, my flesh, my enemies, my carnal mind, my doubts, my fears, the lies of the devil. He already conquered it all. He lets me experience these things to teach me how to fight, and so I can comfort others. Not to make me give up. Not to cause me to feel unloved or left out or abandoned. But so through my experience, I gain confidence in his strength and word, and can help others going through the same thing. Somebody not long ago was preaching about God's Boot Camp. I think it was Bro. Terry Bowling. I remember mentally thinking at the time, Lord, take me there. I guess I have arrived. I thank you Lord, for your long suffering. For the encouragement of your word. For teaching me not to expect the Pastor to lift me up, when I am down, for you said YOU were the lifter up of mine head.

YOU are my strength, my defense, and you have given me all I need to defend myself with against the adversary of my soul. You gave me your truth to combat his lies. Your Holy Spirit to help me understand your truth and show me how to use it. Your promise to always instruct and teach me.

Thank you Father, for your strength, your love, your patience. I so want to be more like you. I love you, Father. I love you Jesus, and I love you Holy Ghost.