7 Powerful Keys to Perseverance!

I have seen it so many times – people who make a good start in following Jesus then fall away. Why does this happen and how can it be prevented?

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Surely, anyone can learn to persevere in following Jesus. There are at least seven important things that you need for perseverance. But let’s answer the first question first: why does this happen?

People fall away for many reasons, most of which have to do with the failure to do the things they need to do. Some have taught that once you become a Christian you are done. That is false teaching! The Bible does not allow for that kind of life. We are saved so we can become like Jesus. That is a lifelong pursuit!

Seven Keys

One – Settle the Question

This is the biggest stumbling block for people.

We may turn to God out of desperation but do we follow? Do we determine in our hearts that we will continue? To settle the question means that there is no doubt. We don’t say “if” regarding spiritual things. For example, we stop saying: “If nothing comes up, I will be in church, read my Bible, pray.”

Perseverance doesn’t happen in the ‘if.’

We must stop just trying to do the things we need to do and do them instead. I know people who skip church if they have a sniffle. I also know those who are in church unless they are in the hospital! Those are the ones who have truly settled the question!

Settling the question means there is no turning back. It’s leaving the old life like the disciples did when they walked away from their jobs to follow Jesus. Failure to do this means you will not persevere in following Jesus.

Two – Change Your Lifestyle

When you start to follow, you must get rid of everything that keeps you from becoming like Jesus. That means entertainments, language, recreation, habits and maybe even how you eat, drink and sleep! You cannot persevere if you are trying to make your spiritual health compete with all the things you used to do. You must make time for your spiritual health and that means your lifestyle changes.

Perseverance is a lifestyle.

Three – Go to Church

I know that some churches have problems. That’s well documented. But we need each other and we need times of corporate worship. There is something powerful about gathering together and worshiping. It encourages and strengthens us spiritually to be in that environment.

Four – Build the Right Relationships

Many relationships draw us away from Jesus. They require our time and attention, keep us from worship, compromise our morals and inspire bitterness and anger and not love! Some of these relationships are with family. I have seen family relationships cripple people spiritually!

We must have relationships that encourage and strengthen us. When the relationship makes us more like the world, we must reevaluate it and minimize it. When it makes us more like Jesus, we must nurture it.

Five – Read the Bible

 I have interviewed candidates for ordination that have not even read the entire Bible once! This is the word of God. It is perhaps the most important factor to healthy spiritual life.

Daily time in the word of God makes us stronger. When we read God’s word, we learn about him and we learn about ourselves. We learn about how we are to live and how God helps us live that life. Reading the Bible equips us for the things we encounter in everyday life.

Six – Pray

I have written a lot about prayer. You can read more here and here.

Prayer is essential communication with God. It is our expression of worship and praise, of anxiety and need, of questions and problems. When we pause to listen, we open ourselves to hear from him. While perceiving the word of God takes time and effort, the more we practice the art of listening the better we get at it!

Perseverance happens through prayer.

Seven – Remind Yourself of #1!

That’s right – once in a while you may need to remind yourself that you have settled the question. You are following no matter what. If you are in a difficult place that God has led you to, remind yourself that you are where God wants you to be.

He is faithful and will see you through.

My prayer for you is that you will persevere and grow more like Jesus each day, that you will help others follow Jesus, too, and that you are a champion of the faith!