Don’t Stop; Keep Going

By Dick Leggatt

    Have you ever been tempted to quit? To simply throw in the towel and stop trying or moving forward? If so, you are not alone. Lately, I have been talking with a number of Christians who are feeling that way. The enemy of our souls seems to be working overtime in these days to discourage the saints and obstruct their forward progress.

    Does it help to know you are not the only one facing these obstacles? That you are not the only one who has been tempted to quit? I hope this letter will convince you to counteract the enemy’s attempts to make you give up. In fact, I hope you will feel refreshed by what I say – even to the point of setting your face and renewing your resolve to keep moving forward in God’s purposes for your life.

    No matter what the circumstances, keep moving forward. Under no circumstances can I allow my weariness or discouragement to cause me to give up in exhaustion and stop. Instead, I will keep moving forward in God’s plans and purposes for me. Do you feel the same way? Let’s agree right now that no matter the circumstances we face in our lives, we will not stop! We will keep going!

Weary Yet Pursuing

    There are many biblical examples of this kind of determination to keep moving forward in the purposes of God. One that always stirs me is a phrase from the story of Gideon and his band of 300 men. That phrase, taken from Judges 8:4, is "…weary yet pursuing" (NASB).

    Gideon and his band of 300 were in hot pursuit of the Midianites. They had them on the run…but they had worn themselves out through hours of furious fighting. They may have been tempted to quit in exhaustion. However, had they stopped, the tide of battle might have turned against them. So, instead of quitting, they kept on with the chase: "weary yet pursuing." The New International Version says they were "exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit." Can you relate to that situation?

    In addition we get a picture of the Messiah’s determination from the prophetic insight in Isaiah 50:7b: "Therefore, I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." We see the outworking of this Scripture in the life of Jesus when He was on His way to Jerusalem: "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51, NKJV). Everything about the life of Jesus fits our theme: Don’t stop; keep going.

Your Labor Is Not in Vain

    Keep following the Lord with as much endurance as you can muster. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Never give up in your pursuit of the Lord and His purposes for your life. Know for certain that even in your worst moments, your work in the name of Jesus Christ counts for something. Do you believe that?

Just Keep Going

    Is this letter striking a resonant chord with you? If so, this would be the perfect time for us to make a declaration together about our intention to go forward despite the obstacles in our way. Are you ready to pray the following prayer with me?

    Lord, I confess that lately I have been tempted to give up. Circumstances have pressed in upon me, and thoughts have come to me about not going on any more. Please forgive me for entertaining such thoughts.

    Lord Jesus, I focus now upon the example You set. Even facing crucifixion, You set Your face like flint to go to Jerusalem, the very place where You would face betrayal, pain and death. I join You now in setting my face like flint to move forward in God’s purposes. Thank You for giving me the strength and the grace to move ahead. I look to You, the Author of my faith, and I declare that I will move forward with endurance.

    I place all the circumstances I am facing right now in Your hands. They are Yours to deal with, Lord. My job is to cling to You and move forward in Your will. So this is my proclamation: I am moving forward in Your strength and in Your grace. Amen.

Added Inspiration

    The Lord has heard your declaration, and He will be faithful to respond and help with what you have expressed. The enemy of your soul has also heard what you have proclaimed, and his resistance may increase. Don’t stop; keep going. Let your testimony be like that of Gideon and his men. Please move forward – "weary yet pursuing" the will of God for your life. You can be sure of the Lord’s help for you as you set your face to keep going.

    Now, it is time for us to move forward with a new sense of encouragement. Together, we fix our eyes on the Author of our faith, who endured hostility and suffering at the hand of men without flinching or turning to the right or to the left.

    – Taken from a letter by Dick Leggatt, President of DPM – USA. Used by permission of Derek Prince Ministries – USA. www.derekprince.org.