How is persistence an important character quality? - Persistence - TouchPoints

Genesis 18:32Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

Luke 18:1-5One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Persistence in prayer is vital for effective intercession. The more persistent your prayers, the more hope you have that God will answer. We never have to be ashamed of being tenacious in asking God to do what is right because he is just.

Genesis 32:26-29Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” . . . Then he blessed Jacob there.

Luke 11:8“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”

Persistence is often the key to getting what you want. Just make sure that what you want is in line with God’s will for you. Trust in God is refined when we are persistent in prayer about certain key desires that we know only he can supply.

Luke 9:62Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Acts 14:22They [Paul and Barnabas] encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

Revelation 3:14-16“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

Persistence in following, learning, and growing is necessary in your walk with Christ. It is the key to consistent growth of character. Those who drift and are apathetic in following Jesus actually are not following Jesus and are, as was the church of Laodicea, a disappointment to him.