40 Days of Amazing Love – A love letter from God -Day 7 QUITTING IS AN OPTION
DAILY DEVOTION
Hebrews 12:2 (AMP) reads, “Looking away from all that will distract us and; focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].”
REFLECTION
We’ve been told to NEVER QUIT! But, quitting is an option.
Why? Because there is healthy quitting and unhealthy quitting. You do have a choice.
HEALTHY QUITTING
God wants us to look away from all that will distract us. In other words, quit the things that are keeping you from accomplishing the necessary goals in life.
Quit the things that are hindering your relationship with God.
Healthy quitting is when you give up on unhealthy decisions, unhealthy lifestyles, and unhealthy choices.
What does healthy quitting look like?
QUIT…unhealthy daily routines
QUIT…Unhealthy relationships with food
QUIT…Unhealthy thoughts that lead to unhealthy confessions
QUIT…Unhealthy Addictions—drugs, alcohol, sexual addictions or gambling
QUIT…Toxic relationships—trying to make it work when it’s not meant to work
If you do not quit unhealthy habits, you’re destined to fail.
It’s time to quit the problems that are weighing you down.
Not quitting unhealthy lifestyles will cause you failure.
UNHEALTHY QUITTING
Now, what does unhealthy quitting look like?
Unhealthy quitting is when you give up on the things that really matter, (i.e., healthy decisions, healthy choices, and healthy habits).
For example, you may have set a goal to lose 20 pounds, but you want to give up when you are 20 minutes into the 30-minute workout. That’s not a time to quit. You want to press forward until you finish.
Or, you may have set a goal to participate in 40 Days of God’s Amazing Love but you can’t seem to keep up with prayer, fasting, and reading the daily devotions. Spiritual growth is the lifeline to all personal and professional growth.
Quitting prayer is unhealthy quitting.
Quitting fasting is unhealthy quitting.
Quitting your daily devotions is unhealthy quitting.
Don’t quit the things that enhance your personal and professional lives.
Don’t quit on God because he will never give up on you.
Jesus Christ quit everything that was a hindrance to his crucifixion. Because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you have everything you need to finish STRONG.
If Jesus would have quit what really mattered, but he didn’t, we would be lost and unfilled. This would have been unhealthy quitting.
There would be no healing, deliverance, safety, provision, or soundness of mind. But, God knew we could not accomplish salvation on our own. That’s why he sent his son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom for our sins so that we can be saved.
Jesus carried the cross to his death.
He endured the cross, disregarded the shame, and sits at the right hand of the Father revealing his nature, his power, and his ability to finish his life’s purpose.
Jesus has demonstrated unhealthy quitting to us so that we can have an example to finish what we start.
We have a duty to fulfill our God-given purpose in life.
QUIT the unhealthy things that are weighing you down.
But…
DON’T QUIT on the one who brings your faith to maturity.
PRAYER DIRECTIVE
For a deeper reflection,
What are some unhealthy habits that you need to quit?
What are some unhealthy choices that you need to lay aside because you know they are destroying you? Talk to the Father.
Holy Spirit, strengthens us where we are weak.
Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Remember what Christ has done for you. Repent. Refocus.
~inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Pastor Sean and Dr. Regina M. Daigre