“That is why we never give up…”  2 Corinthians 4:16a (NLT)

This is the time of year when people like to make resolutions.  We promise ourselves that we will make changes to improve our lives during the coming year.  We make our declarations on New Year’s Eve, and by the time Easter rolls around, we forget all about our good intentions.

Every year I look to the Lord for guidance for the upcoming year.  Each year I end up with one word on my heart; a theme, if you will, to follow throughout the year.  Last year, my word was change.  I encouraged everyone I know to pray about one thing God would like them to change, and then I encouraged them to implement that change.  I spurred them on to change not for themselves or their spouse; not for their children or their friends.

Change for God.  Change for good.

Many people made many changes and I was grateful to have witnessed God’s glory in their lives.  But I made very few changes in my own life.  I tried to change, but then I would quit.  I allowed life to get in the way.  I made excuses why I couldn’t change.

Change is hard, and I am a creature of habit.

This year, as I prayed for my one word theme, the word that kept coming up was PERSEVERE.  I am called to persevere as I continue to change.  We are all called to persevere.

One of my goals for 2011 was to start a blog; which has been on my mind all year, yet it’s a task I have not accomplished.    It seems only fitting that I start my blog on the last day of the year.  Since perseverance is my theme for 2012, I have decided to blog about persevering though any hardship in life.

With God’s help, we can do anything.  I pray you will join me in this journey as we unfold the mysteries in scripture about perseverance.

Peace be with you.

Julia

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”  Revelation 3:10 (NLT)