Daily Devotional - Monday - January 11

​It seems like someone is watching my life and writing it down.  The study was from Isaiah 40: 28-31.  Perseverance... Very appropriate for me right now.  Persevering to reach the goals I've set for myself.  I used to walk around "the block" when I lived at home.  Of course it was a three mile hike.  Starting out is a nice easy downhill experience that took me past my Grandmother’s home and then once you get to the bottom and look ahead, it seemed like the road just went straight up in the air.  But, you do what you can and go a little way until you think your legs just might fall off.  The next day might even be the same.  But the next day you do a few more steps or yards, and then the next day after that the same. And now you've started noticing how pretty the trees are and not thinking about where your next breath is coming from. There are so many new things to see.  There's a new baby calf in the field and the cows just watch you walk by as your heaving steadily and soon you have to turn around and go back down. Now it’s uphill both ways.   But because you've persevered, you finally make it up that hill, the BIG ONE and you've done it without a hitch.  The cows seem to follow your progress and give out that low belly "mmmmm" when you go by. They've become your cheering section.  Before long, without even realizing it,you've walked three miles worth of up hills and down hills.  Then the road evens out and your home.

There are a lot of uphill battles in life.  We begin experiencing them from the day we are born.  Learning to walk, talk, dress ourselves and learning to read and meeting new people.  The loss of family and loved ones and being alone for the first time for a holiday. Working to maintain your home, recovering from an illness and enduring life somewhere that you don't want to be. And for sure going on the diet of your life.   But all these uphill battles open up new opportunities, new adventures, new friends and even a new lease on life.  Because we've persevered, it makes us stronger in life and able to "Do or Do Not, there is no try!" We just need to ask Christ to climb the hill with us. He'll be there to pick us up if we should stumble and fall.  He'll walk along beside you ALL the way.  You just need to invite Him.  Do that today.  What a difference it will make in your life.- Joyce Miller