A Determined Christian Lives Life Boldly
You’re a determined Christian. Your feet hit the floor, you have a plan, and intend to hit the bullseye so ideas become realities. Your go-to verse is Psalm 57:7 “My heart is fixed, Oh God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”
That seems fine and dandy, until.
Enemies nip at your heels, just like an angry dog. In no time, attacks mount on every side sabotaging your efforts.
That’s what happened to the soon-to-be King David. He fled from Saul for his life and wrote Psalm 57:7. In his turmoil and confrontation with death, his heart remained fixed with a song on his lips. He had a heart plum full of determination regardless of the storm. Like David, I’d rather cry and praise God and not abandon Him when life is a tad overwhelming.
So what do you do when you’re betwixt and between—on the axiomatic fence of change? Throw up your hands and shout, “I quit”? That’s a tempting solution but hardly an option when the next day presents the same set of circumstances.
How do you put trials and sorrows to work to remove disappointment and bitterness from your heart? How do you turn weaknesses into a unified fortified purpose?
The determination of a Christian shows up when you don’t doubt or waver. You cry out to God in celebratory assurance when your heart is fixed. Instead of enduring seasons of emotions that come and go, a determined Christian stands at the helm. You dictate to feelings that you’re on solid ground.
Build Bridges to Become a Determined Christian
A bridge takes you somewhere you’ve never been. Water flows, sometimes a lot, underneath. You concentrate on arriving safely on the other end by moving forward. You stick out your tongue at the what-ifs threatening you along the way.
Just like a mountain climber, you look up and never focus on the crevice. You refuse to consider possible outcomes or whether results are happy or grievous. You ignore feelings that can’t be trusted and give attention to the job before you, with a will to succeed in spite of setbacks.
Biblical Examples of Christian Determination
The Babylonians captured Daniel along with other Jews. The Babylonian customs were the norm in a foreign land. Daniel prayed as spies watched and he refused to eat food from the king’s table. That in itself was enough to get him killed.
Daniel was wise and stayed true to his faith and his God. With determination, He laid hold of God’s plans for him. His actions saved his life and the lives of his friends.
Then there’s Moses. He was angry because the Israelites moaned and groaned. He called them stiff-necked people and broke the first set of the Ten Commandments. Whoops! As soon as he heads for the mountain, they make a golden calf as a god to worship. The people he led were beyond difficult, but he stood up to God on their behalf.
When God told Moses to leave Him alone so He could kill them, Moses came to their defense. Their wretched behavior didn’t undermine his determination to finish his assigned job. He found ways to cope.
And don’t forget Jesus. He announced His ministry to the world by reading Isaiah 61 in the temple. He set his face like flint to plot his daily course towards the cross. Would you be happy knowing your ministry ends in a terrible beating, crucifixion, and death? He resurrected to life, but crappy stuff happened at the beginning, middle, and end.
His ministry was far from days of wine and roses. People misunderstood, hated, betrayed, spat on, and lied about Him. His time was short to complete His mission. The Pharisees were His constant enemies setting proverbial minefields wherever He walked. Yet, Jesus was a determined Christian. He became every Christian’s advocate enduring temptations and heartaches on our behalf.
How to Be a Determined Christian
Mother Theresa worked behind the scenes in desperate situations to give the downtrodden a sense of dignity. Everyone else forgot them. In one account, she found a man alive in a ditch. Covered with maggots, she cleaned him up so he could die with a measure of self-esteem.
People knew her as a tireless and determined individual. She reached out to lepers, cripples, and the most unlovely of humans.
Corrin Ten Boom survived the holocaust, saw her sister die, and later met the guard that caused their suffering. At a gathering where she spoke, her heart turned cold when she saw the Nazi officer responsible for the concentration camp atrocity. Her topic that day was forgiveness and she fought hard to stay composed.
After the atrocities, this man accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and came forward to meet Corrie. He extended a hand of fellowship and asked for forgiveness. He didn’t know she had been one of his captives. Determined to live what she professed, with God’s help she forgave him, on the spot.
Oust Feelings to Become a Determined Christian
Christian determination means you banish a life that gives into feelings and the throes of darkness. You stop the fickleness and spasmodic nature of emotions that sidetrack visions and plans. You lay down laws in your heart about what resides there. That’s determined behavior that brings fruitful results.
On this journey of determination, love becomes steadfast, thoughts constant, and the path narrow. You’ll finish what you start, no matter how long it takes. On occasions, you may want to give up but you won’t.
You see yourself as a disciple of Christ—the spiritual leader you emulate because He achieved His goal. He set the world free and created a stir wherever He went. You and I can do the same.