The value of determination

Being Determined to NOT give up! This past weekend, Pat and I decided to take a walk Saturday morning at a park not far from our home. We were ready to get outdoors after being cooped up at office Monday through Friday. It had begun to lightly drizzle, but with our umbrellas, we set out to enjoy a stroll through Hollin Meadows Park. It is amazing to me that with as many times we have walked the trails, I actually got disoriented and was not quite sure where some of the trails were taking us. The damp landscape looked so unfamiliar as we made our way on the meadow trails. We ended up one time having to turn around because the trail was so covered in water. As we turned around to try another trail, I began to eventually wonder if we would ever make it back to the parking lot. It is interesting how the same location under different circumstances can cause you to loose perspective and make you second guess the right path to take. We eventually did find our way back to the parking lot and though our shoes ended up getting soaked in the process, it felt good to get out and enjoy the outdoors together. Our adventures at the Park reminded me that life can be unpredictable and filled with unexpected challenges. The landscape of life sometimes takes us to unknown terrain and if we are not careful, it is too easy to get sidetracked and sometimes never really reach our intended destination. So how do we live an “on-purpose” life in a world full of so many challenges? The answer is one word: determination! Determination means firmness of purpose and resoluteness and it is a quality that will make you start and finish something. It is the act of NOT giving up. Leonardo da Vinci said, “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” Determination does not require you to be naturally talented or intelligent. It does require a choice that when you have obstacles on your pathway of life, that you choose not to give up. The world is filled with common individuals who have done uncommon things, and all of them had determination. “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” Galatians 6:9 AMPC The bottom line is we all will go through hard times and determination helps us to reach the finish line. “I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG I have good news for you. As children of God, we can fuel our determination with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit living inside us. So, we are not limited to our sheer will power. We can easily tap into that power source inside us anytime when we ask Him and believe. This power boost allows us to overcome the obstacles in our path and achieve a life of purpose. Since determination is a choice, NOT a feeling, there is no excuse. Let’s decide today we are going to finish the race and NOT give up.