Finishing Strong

‘...I have finished my course...’ 2 Timothy 4:7 KJV

To finish strong, you must understand three things. First, that people will leave you. It may be because you’ve outgrown them, or to fulfil their own vision, or because they don’t want to go where God’s taking you. People left Jesus: ‘…many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.’ (John 6:66 NKJV) Secondly, that challenges will come. Everybody God uses moves from one challenge to the next. Paul writes, ‘…we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships… We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food… God’s power has been working in us… Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.’ (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NLT) Finally, that Satan will attack you. When he does, remember, attack is a sign of respect. It lets you know you’re valuable to God. It also indicates the level of blessing that awaits you beyond the attack. Satan will attack when God is about to bring something to birth in your life. It may be the birth of a relationship, a career, a ministry, or even a child God will use. Your ‘difficult child’ may be a child of destiny; that’s why they encounter more difficulties than your other children. They have an assignment the enemy has discerned. When the attack comes, stand on God’s Word and say, ‘Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)