In addition to vision (expectation), we each need to have determination. That gives us the strength of will we need to press towards our goal. Many people don't reach their goals because they lack the inner courage to keep moving forward. That courage comes from a clear vision of your goal. Curiosity will only empower for a moment. Determination will empower you for the long hawl. Jesus was determined to complete the long walk for the sake of our salvation. What are you in pursuit of today? Are you determined or just curious? Receive strength through God's word for your walk.

Galatians 6:9 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

In life we need vision to give us a goal to reach for. We need internal fortitude to keep us connected to the task of reaching that goal. Yesterday, we defined that inner strength as determination. Reality teaches that something else is very necessary – PERSEVERANCE. Webster defines perseverance as continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. Reality teaches us that when we are in pursuit of something good, it will not come easy. We will undoubtedly experience failure, and there will most certainly be opposition. There is Satanic opposition to the plan God has for our lives – period. When we persevere, we exercise strength to overcome our opposition without giving up. Is there anything you are on the verge of giving up on? Remember this week that Jesus did not get to “mid-week” and give out of internal strength. We encourage you to persevere today. It’s part of the plan!

Romans 8:37  

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

We're  focused on being successful at our goals in life. Do you have a goal that you are pressing forward towards? During our week of walking with Jesus, it is important to understand why His life's mission was so important to Him that He set out to accomplish His goal with determination and perseverance. Many of us are missing an ingredient that helps us to finish our task. It is called TENACITY. Tenacity is best defined as relentless pursuit or the quality about us that "just wont let us quit." Tomorrow is what is called "Good Friday." We will unpack that tomorrow. Just know that the closer you get to your goal, the tougher it becomes to reach. Jesus had  tenacity. He did not let the last obstacle on Thursday, physical, psychological, emotional, nor spiritual deter Him from completing His assignment. Don't you quit when you are so close to your goal. 

Hebrews 12:2

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Many people debate why today is called “Good Friday.” I choose to reason like this: “It was good to Him and good for us who are now saved.” Today, Jesus did what He came to do. His life and ministry culminated in the cross. The highest point of His life happened on this day. At the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:4, Peter said: “It is good for us to be here (in the presence of Moses, Elijah and Jesus).” They experienced life far beyond their physical understanding that day. That day they realized that those who died were not dead as they previously supposed but that there is life beyond this. It was good for Jesus to reach the cross because on today He satisfied the sin debt for all would believe. Today is the day that we who believe gained the opportunity of a lifetime - eternity with God. In your walk today, will you Give God thanks for giving us Jesus and for His good work on the cross? And, will you ask yourself today, “how do I make my life ‘good?’” Are we on target to do what God created us to do? Are we living with expectation, determination, perseverance and tenacity to reach your greater good? Our lives should somehow impact others for eternity! Seven Scriptures give us a vivid picture of what happened on the cross that day. They are the 7 last words of Jesus. The question: “Were you there when they crucified our Lord?” Meditate on these as you walk towards Sunday.

Luke 23:34 ((To God):  “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:43 (To the thief):  “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

John 19:26-27 (To His mother):  “Woman, here is your son… (To John):  Here is your mother.”

Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46

(To God): “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’)

John 19:28 (To all there):  “I thirst.”

John 19:30 (To the world):  “It is finished.”

Luke 23:46 (To God):  “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Click Below To See Good Friday Video

It’s a quiet day today and in many there is a sense of hopelessness. There's an old singer (many of you already know) who said, " I feel like it's raining all over the world." We can imagine that’s how the disciples of old felt after Friday. In some, however, there was a sense of expectation. Do you ever ponder what the word of God really means to you? Let’s not be super spiritual. Many of us today are fighting the same sense of helplessness and hopelessness, trying to hold on to a rope of hope that God will somehow come through. I want to remind you of something powerful. God didn’t require you to have giant faith. A harvest of faith starts with a seed. So does everything else we ever accomplish for Him in life. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus teaches that if we have faith as a mustard seed, we can say to “this” mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move! Your hope is actually a seed form of EXPECTATION. You have vision for better. Add to your vision, DETERMINATION. Don’t lose strength today. Just remember that you have the Strong One in you. You are not alone in this battle. Recognize it. It’s nothing new. This is the fight from the grave. You must PERSEVERE though. If you feel yourself giving out, take a rest in the Lord, in His word. And then, rise up with TENACITY. The trick of the enemy is to make you feel like you’re a long way away from victory when you’re almost there! Sunday is coming!!!

Genesis 8:22 - As long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.