SEVEN TIPS TO STAY THE COURSE

BY VIRGINIA GROUNDS

Tears ran down the face of my husband as he sat in a training session led by a police sergeant He heard about the need for help for the wounded and God gave him a vision that day From that vision, a plan took shape for beginning a ministry that neither of us knew anything about and were unprepared for It was God’s call for our lives Because the Lord gave the vision, he also gave the plan for something out of our comfort zone

Yet, out of that plan, 3,000 volunteers received training to respond to the wounded in cases of disaster and crime Prayer, counsel, and supplies saved and encouraged lives for survival

As an analytical person, it was my job to put the plan to paper with guidelines, training tools, and response kits Many times, those written documents were the grounding needed to keep everyone working as a team when tensions were high.

People may ask, what do you mean “ a calling? How do you know?” I believe when God calls us to a mission, he gives a quickening in our spirit, a vision in our mind, and a burning desire in our heart The vision God gives requires a plan to accomplish the mission and his purpose It may not be easy or what we thought we would do with our life But it will be beneficial to others and fulfilling for us Our calling, therefore, is what God has purposed for us By acknowledging His purpose, we create the plan

As we age or when we are under stress, we can forget things. Therefore, it is important to have things in writing, especially how you see God at work in your life and the lives of others. The writing and action of the mission become our testimony, giving hope and encouragement to others who may be struggling Life is hard We all need as much encouragement as we can get to stay the course, to stand firm in our faith, and to pursue God’s call

Hope is not something to be ignored It is the confident expectation of something good, and that good is Jesus He is our living hope Keeping our focus on him through the trials of life helps us to have the peace that no one can understand

The Bible tells us to draw near to God and he will draw near to us As we draw near daily, we become sensitive to God’s leading Proverbs 19:21 tells us “ many are the plans of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (ESV) We learn from this that unless we seek the counsel of the Lord when making plans, our human intent will unravel Plans must come from the Lord as he inspires

I am a list maker, but not everyone is. Making a to do list when there are too many activities on my calendar helps me to prioritize and accomplish what is most important. For years, I have been journaling writing about how I am inspired by God’s word and what he has done in my life My plan for each day has the same beginning Get up, make a cup of coffee, sit down with my Bible and notebook to pray, study, and write what God inspires, instructs, and guides me through his word When I begin each day like this, I can accomplish what is before me

Just as my husband stayed the course of his calling until the day he met Jesus face to face, we can too So, what can we do to stay the course each year? Make a list and follow a plan.

Here are seven tips to help:

1.Draw near to God each day. (James 4:8)

2 Listen for the guidance he gives through prayer and his word (Prov 19:20)

3 Ask God to reveal what he calls you to (Phil 3:14-15)

4 Write a plan for how to activate the vision he gives (Prov 19:21)

5 Serve in life and work with Jesus and others in mind (Phil 2:3-5)

6 Make it a regular action to draw near to God If he is involved in the plan, he will ensure its accomplishment (John 5:36)

7 Pray and praise him as you go about your day (Ps. 146:1-2, Ps. 150:6)