Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the fifth of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses steadfastness.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, … (2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Different versions of scripture use a variety of words or phrases in the place of the word steadfastness.  By looking at these words and phrases you can gain a better understanding of this character quality that needs to be developed in your life if you want to become the person God wants you to be.

Patience (KJV)

Perseverance (NIV)

Endurance (GNT)

Patient endurance (NLT)

The ability to endure (Phillips)

The ability to hold on (ICB)

Passionate patience (MSG)

The strength to keep going (NIRV)

Do not give up (NLV)

Steadfastness is a quality that needs to be developed in our lives, but it comes at a price.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)

Steadfastness pays off.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

A good application of this quality is found in Hebrews chapter 12.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, …. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Prayer:  God, help me to calmly, quietly, and steadily persevere in spite pain, annoyances, times of trouble, difficulties, or hardships.

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.