PERSEVERANCE PAYS

It was in January during the ninth year of King Zedekiah's reign that King Nebuchadnezzar and his army returned to besiege Jerusalem. Two and a half year later, on July 18, the Babylonians broke through the wall, and the city fell. Jeremiah 39:1-2.



The defeat of the kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians is interpreted by the Jewish historians in the book of Second Chronicles 36:17-21 as the work of the Lord who brought the Babylonians against Judah for its sin.

This reflection will not enter into the debates on the fall of the city and why God should allow it to fall. The focus here is on the sheer perseverance of the Babylonians in besieging the city. They besieged the city for two and a half years. They waited patiently believing the city will fall. There may have been times of discouragement when it seemed nothing was happening. The Babylonians must have besieged the city before as the above verse indicated. This was another return to attack the city.

They were willing to continue to try attacking the city until the city fell. Their perseverance paid off when after more than two years the city fell. Perseverance pays. Many great things in life have happened through perseverance. Perseverance is pushing until the door is opened. Perseverance is pushing until the miracle comes. Perseverance is waiting until you wait out your pursuer. Perseverance is never giving up. Perseverance is acting until you see the breakthrough.

Jesus persevered through his three days on the grave hoping and believing that on the third day he will rise again. He did rise again. The disciples waited until power came upon them in the upper room. With perseverance people are able to finish various forms of schooling. With perseverance the mother carries her baby for nine months in the womb. With perseverance people move through marriage problems, to more blessed times.

You woke up this morning because you believed in today. There is nobody in this world without perseverance. The degree of perseverance varies. Each person should try to build up their perseverance capacity. Out persevere your perseverance. Swim against the currents. Walk beyond your normal walk. Take the extra mile. Perseverance only takes a little more. When you think of giving up remember that the next step could bring the victory.

Every river has a shallow place. Every tree has a branch that you can sit on. There will always be friends who support your cause. Your venture can bring you success. What you are not seeing today you can see tomorrow. Your today can be better than your yesterday.

Next year will be good. Anticipate next year. Keep walking until you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The road you are walking may have been walked by other people before. Let their own successes in walking through the road be an encouragement to you. You will make it. See you on victory land.

Potentiality Action Key:
Look deeper and wider the river may have a shallow area where you can crossover.



TAKE MY WORD TO THE WORLD.
OMOROVIE M. IKEKE.
Author of more than 25 books.

Buy his latest book: "YOU ARE TALLER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS: MOVING AHEAD WITH POTENTIALITY THINKING."  click and buy at http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/20784