SHOW NOTES
How to Endure, pt2
Leadership in Context with Keith Tucci
Episode 206
How do people you admire—in Scripture, in history, in your life—endure? What is the secret to endurance? It’s important to understand these things or we will fall into the trap of thinking that others can endure because they are wired a certain way or tougher than we are. There are things we can learn from others that can be replicated.
We are all called to endurance. We are all called to finish strong.
1. Identify what the enemy is trying to take, and fight back.
There are schemes of the enemy trying to defeat you to erode your endurance. One of the first things you have to do when you suffer an attack of any kind is ask, “What is this going to stop me from?” (Not every hardship or trial is demonically inspired, but the enemy is more than happy to take advantage of the circumstance.)
Never let the enemy pick the battlefield. Victorious armies always pick the place of conflict. When you identify what the enemy is trying to take, you aren’t fighting the battle on the field he wants.
2. Refuse to be separated.
When you are under attack, oppression, or when things are going wrong, most people naturally withdraw. The enemy always wants to separate.
If you are in a battle, pick up the phone and ask for support and prayer. Don’t miss that prayer meeting, small group, or church on Sunday. Purposefully stay connected.
When people are going through hard times, they often wonder where all the people they are connected to are. And the people who are connected to them are wondering where they are, too. It takes two. Stay connected. Keep your relational integrity. The enemy will eat you for lunch if you get separated.
3. Do not neglect your commitments and patterns.
There are things you have to do even when all hell is breaking loose in your life. You still have to cut the grass, change the oil, and stop at red lights. Keep doing those things, because loose ends become a mental and emotional feeding ground for the enemy to bring oppression and depression.
Don’t let those loose ends eat your mental lunch. You might have to get up earlier or go to bed later to get those things done. Try to stay in your patterns and disciplines when things are going wrong. That will help sustain you instead of randomly living life in chaos. Disruption is designed for chaos. In warfare, they drop bombs to disrupt the plan. The enemy will try to do the same thing.
4. Get refreshed and stay refreshed.
When I went through a difficult season about 16 years ago, I had trouble sleeping. I would get up and go to the living room to spend that time worshiping and praying. I was hanging onto Jesus and focused on that.
Sometimes when in a crisis, you run to and fro, trying to figure out what YOU are going to do instead of what God wants you to do.
Quiet your soul.
Be still.
Have a set time for feeding.
Listen to Him first.
Stay refreshed daily.
You cannot live on yesterday’s manna. You have to live in today, and you need a fresh Word for today. If you don’t know where to start, open up the Psalms. Read them aloud so you can hear God’s heart.
How to Endure:
1. Identify what the enemy is trying to take, and fight back.
2. Refuse to be separated.
3. Do not neglect your commitments and patterns.
4. Get refreshed and stay refreshed.
This is how you plow your way through the land mines that are happening around you. God wants you to endure. He doesn’t want you to just make it through. He wants you to be prosperous and effective. He wants you to be an overcomer. You can do it, because “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
Join us next week as Keith Tucci continues to put leadership truth in the context of the local church. And as always, please like, share, rate/review, and invite others to listen. See you next week!
