DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die."  (2Kings 7:4b)

I am often reminded of my father in-law's old saying, "give out, but don't give up."  His belief that we should never give up was infectious. He was not saying that we would always be successful if we stayed the course.  Nor was he saying that holding on might not cost a tremendous price.  But he believed that life was not living unless we were willing to keep getting up no matter how many times we were knocked down.

In the passage above, the 4 lepers were seemingly down and out.  They were hungry and had no access to food.  They could not go into the city because they were lepers. In addition, there was a famine in the city anyway.  The Syrians, who were their enemies, were close by but the lepers would probably be killed if they asked them for food.  Yet, they decided to get up and try anyway.  Either they would be helped and live; or they would be killed.  But for them, doing nothing was not an option.  In verses 5 and 6 we read that God had already gone on before them and frightened the Syrians to run away.  The lepers ate and were filled; and collected gold and silver as well.  

Many of us have been knocked down in 2013.  However we have decided that we are not going to stay down in 2014.  We are dissatisfied with our circumstances and we are looking for better things.  We will not stay where we are but we are going to get up and move.  We are going to "let go and let God."  We know that God will  take 2 steps when we take 1.   

I am looking forward to the year 2014.  If trials and tribulations come my way, I may give out, but I will "not" give up.  What about You?