per⋅sist: to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, esp in spite of opposition; to last or endure

The word PERSIST has been in the forefront of my mind for the past several weeks. There are so many things I want to PERSIST in. I wish I could PERSIST in becoming a better blogger. I wish I could PERSIST in keeping up with my housework, my couponing, my schoolwork, my personal spiritual growth, ministry. There are so many things that I am called to PERSIST in. Recently, God has called me to a group of women who have adopted the word PERSIST as our group name. It stands for Pursuing Excellence Regardless, Standing Immovable, Striving Together. This group is a group of women striving to improve their health and wellness. Our goals include losing body fat, gaining muscle, and improving our overall wellness. The words we chose to represent us speak volumes. Pursuing Excellence Regardless: for me, this means in everything I do, eat, and drink...do it all for the glory of God. In this aspect of my life, my body, it involves so many choices made every hour of every day. Am I pursuing excellence in every food choice I make? Am I pursuing excellence in every minute I spend sweating and working out? Am I pursuing excellence REGARDLESS of my feelings, my emotions, my mood for the day? Am I giving God my best...REGARDLESS? Standing Immovable: Oh, how I fail at this daily. When I hear the word IMMOVABLE, I picture a big stone structure that cannot be moved. NOTHING would shake that structure. I am so easily shaken, so easily tempted back towards my old ways. Striving Together: Wow. This one is harder than I expected. As human beings, we just naturally let each other down. My schedule doesn't meet up with my partners. Someones kid gets sick, or someone just doesn't feel like meeting together. Ultimately, we are called to be accountable. Hebrews speaks specifically of "meeting together". As fellow believers, we must encourage each other on towards good deeds. In addition, we are commanded to NOT be a stumbling block to each other. In our group, PERSIST, it is critical that we are following these Biblical Principals of accountability and encouragement. When one of us hurts, we should all hurt; when one of us rejoices, we should all rejoice. Why is this so hard? When we make decisions to waiver, to be "movable", we are letting each other down, we are adding to the weakness, instead of being an immovable structure. As I learn to PERSIST in every aspect of my life, I pray that I am able to PURSUE EXCELLENCE REGARDLESS. I pray that I STAND IMMOVABLE. And I pray that God helps me to STRIVE TOGETHER with my fellow sisters who struggle with the same issues as I do. My journey continues to evolve, I continue to learn new things about myself and others. Some exciting, some not so exciting. But in all of it, I pray that I PERSIST.