tomorrow's Gospel:Ample room for God's Provision

Scripture: Luke 10:1-12
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.
2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!'
6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house.
8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you;
9 heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
11 `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'
12 I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

ReflectionsIn like manner, the word of God is sown in the hearts of receptive men and women who hear his word and who accept it with trust and obedience. The harvest Jesus had in mind was not only the people of Israel, but all the peoples (or nations) of the world. John the Evangelist tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be "lambs in the midst of wolves"? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who who would oppose the gospel. Jesus came as our sacrificial lamb to atone for the sin of the world. We, in turn, must be willing to sacrifice our lives in humble service of our Lord and Master.

What is the significance of Jesus appointing seventy disciples to the ministry of the word? Seventy was a significant number in biblical times. Moses chose seventy elders to help him in the task of leading the people through the wilderness. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the governing council for the nation of Israel, was composed of seventy members. In Jesus’ times seventy was held to be the number of nations throughout the world. Jesus commissioned the seventy to a two-fold task: to speak in his name and to act with his power. Jesus gave them instructions for how they were to carry out their ministry. They must go and serve as people without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity.

They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must travel light – only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them – in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting reward or payment. “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.

Jesus ends his instructions with a warning: If people reject God’s invitation and refuse his word, then they bring condemnation on themselves. When God gives us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond. Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond to his word. God gives us his word that we may have abundant life in him. He wills to work through and in each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the gospel by word and example to those around you?

Breaking the hostility cycle

I think that when Jesus preached these now-familiar words, He was trying to startle His disciples into taking the next step in their understanding of Christian Love.

Can you imagine how hard it must have been for the disciples to hear Jesus. Challenges? Born and raised in a revenge-oriented culture, they knew all about male honor, bravado, and machismo. Turn the other cheek? A crazy idea like that shakes us from our complacency.

Even as our enemy slaps you, God is trying to reach out of Him. In fact, He is looking for someone through whom He could love this guy. So dig down deep into the foundations of your faith and love Him. Do something radical that will mark His life. If turning the other cheek to Him for a second slap will make a mark on the the man's soul, turn the other cheek.

A glimpse of God's plan

Vision is the God-given ability to catch a glimpse of what God wants to do through your life if you dedicate yourself to Him.

In the bible, Moses had no vision of how God could use Him. I have to admit that I share Moses' problem. My life is not earmarked for greatness. There is no aura of drama about it. I feel plenty ordinary most of the time, and I often wonder if I matter at all.

But every once in a while when I'm tune with the Lord, the holy spirit seems to whisper to me, '' Take your blinders off. Where's your vision? You're not much, but God is. And you matter to Him. Why don't you believe what you preach?" God's challenges to me give me the courage to keep following Him.

Accept others

All human beings are God's beloved creations and all are invited to receive forgiveness at the cross, Because God has invited everybody into his family through Christ, every person we meet is a potential brother or sister. When we grasp this truth and begin to see people for what they mean to God, we begin to soften up and treat people tenderly.

The next time you're rude to someone because he or she is only a waitress only a parking attendant, only the butcher or baker or candlestick maker- stop! There are no "only" in God's eyes. These people may be doing humble work, but each one is extraordinary to God. Each one matters, Employers, If you have to give an employee a pink slip, don't just sack her. Remember that she matters to God. Single people, if you feel you should break up with the person you are dating, don't just dump him. Remember that he matter to God. drivers, next time someone shakes his fist at you in traffic, don't snarl back. Remember that even hotheads matter to God. And God's treasures should be treated tenderly.

Living in God's presence

How can we abide in Christ, and bear spiritual fruit? Reading God's Word and spending time in prayer are good first steps. Prayer is a way to maintain constant communion with God the Father and God the Son through God the Holy Spirit. It is the means of living out the intense relationship Jesus described.

We're called to abide in Him, but God also promise that he will abide in us! Awareness of God's presence comes as the result of taking time to speak and listen to him. When you practice being aware of God's presence you pick up his signals all throughout the day. At work, at home, in your car or wherever you are, you begin to dialogue with the Lord. It has nothing to do with being in a church building or on your knees. It has to do with God's presence in and around you.

Power of Love

God challenges us to become radical, non retaliatory, second-mile lovers because nothing leaves a deeper mark on the lives of spiritually hardened men and women than seeing radical love in action.

If you know the love of Jesus Christ is in a personal way, you may sometimes lie awake nights thinking of ways to mark on people's lives so that they too will come enjoy what you have found. Should you wear a little lapel pin? Put a bumper sticker on your car? Display a large Bible in your office? Tell people that you don't go to movies or buy sexually explicit rock albums?

Jesus says, if you really want to make a deep, lasting mark on someone, demonstrate radical love. There is so much compelling power in kind of love that it makes callous people's heads spin. They cannot figure out why you are giving up your rights and letting someone take advantage of you. But that kind of radical love gets people asking questions- questions that often lead them to God.

tomorrows Gospel: His grace is sufficient and his love is strong

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."

59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

60 But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Reflections

Are you ready to follow the Lord wherever he may lead you? With the call the Lord gives the grace to respond and the strength to follow all the way to the end. Why does Jesus issue a challenge with the call? Jesus was utterly honest in telling people what it would cost to follow him. When a would-be disciple approached Jesus and said he was ready to follow, Jesus told him it would require sacrifice – the sacrifice of certain creaturely comforts. Jesus appealed to this man's heart and told him to detach himself from whatever might hold him back. Spiritual detachment is a necessary step for following the Lord.

It frees us to give ourselves without reserve to the Lord and his service. While many of us may not need to give up the comfort of our own home and bed to follow Jesus, we, nonetheless, must be willing to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing God's will. Another would-be disciple said he would follow as soon as he had buried his father. What he meant by this expression was that he felt the need to return to his home to take care of his father through old age until he died.


The third had no obligation to return home, but simply wanted to go back and say good-bye. Jesus surprised these would-be disciples with the stark truth that nothing should hinder us from following the Lord. Was Jesus being harsh and rude to his would-be followers? Not really. We are free to decide whether we will take the path which Jesus offers. But if we choose to go, then the Lord wants us to count the cost and choose for it freely.

What does the story of a plowman have to do with the journey? A plowman who looked back while plowing his field caused the line or furrow he cut into the soil to become crooked. One crooked line easily leads to another until the whole field is a mess. The plowman had to look straight ahead in order to keep the plow from going off course. Likewise, if we look back on what we have freely left behind to follow the Lord – whether that be some distraction, attachment, or sinful habit which leads us away from doing God's will – our path will likely diverge and we'll miss what God has for us.


The gospel does not record the response from these three would-be disciples. We are only left with the question which Jesus intends for us as well. Are you ready to take the path Jesus offers? His grace is sufficient and his love is strong. There is nothing greater we can do with our lives than to place them at the service of the Lord and Master of the universe. We cannot outgive God in generosity. Jesus promises that those who are willing to part with what is most dear to them for his sake "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). The Lord Jesus offers us a kingdom of lasting peace, unending joy, surpassing love, enduring friendship, and abundant life. Is there anything holding you back from pursuing the Lord and his will for you life?

Loving your enemies

In the culture of first century Jerusalem, receiving a slap in the face was considered the ultimate degradation. Even today when we are insulted, we say, "That was a real slap in the face." There is no doubt about it- you have been publicly humiliated by an arrogant, opinionated ignoramus. You can still feel the sting of his slap on your face. Your adrenaline is flowing; your anger level is skyrocketing. Your honor is at stake. You know you could knock this guy into the middle of next week if you wanted to. And inside your head, voices saying, "Rocky,Rocky,Rocky!"

The moment of truth has arrived. What are you going to do? In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands his followers to show radical love. Don't slap him back. Don't scream at him. don't kick him in the shins. Don't curse him under your breath. Instead, look the man straight in the eye and remind yourself that, in spite of his arrogance and anger, he matters to God.

tomorrow's Gospel:Never lose sight in the kingdom of heaven

Scripture: John 1:47-51 (alternate reading: Luke 9:46-50)
47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."

51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Reflections

What would you give to see beyond the visible – to "see heaven opened and the angels of God"? When Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus, Jesus did the unthinkable! He brought revelation to Nathaniel – revelation of how God sees each of us individually in the deepest recesses of our hearts where no visible eye can perceive the deepest thoughts and longings we have for peace, happiness, and spiritual fulfillment. Nathaniel was very startled that Jesus knew him so intimately even before Nathaniel had the opportunity to meet Jesus. Jesus knew Nathaniel's deepest thoughts and his hunger and longing for God.

What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanial "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's blessing and peace. It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool place to retreat and pray. It is very likely that Nathanial had been thinking about God "under the fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to give his people Israel a savior who would free them from oppression.

Perhaps he dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kindgom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Nathaniel recognized that Jesus truly was the Messiah and the Lord of heaven and earth because Jesus offered him the greatest gift which only God can give – the gift of friendship with God and free access to God's throne in heaven.

What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and descendants would dwell with the living God.

Who are the angels and why do they intervene between heaven and earth? The scriptures tell us the angels are God's servants and messengers. "They are the mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word" (Psalm 103:20). The angels belong to Christ and were created for and through him (Colossians 1:16). The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of the role of the angels in God's plan of salvation: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

The angels are not only messengers but protectors and guardians as well. “For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all yours ways” (Psalm 91:11). We are not alone in our struggle against sin and evil in the world. The armies of heaven fight for us and with us in the spiritual battle for our hearts, minds, and wills. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to God and to his way of peace and happiness?

Jesus' response to Nathanial's new faith is the promise that Jesus himself will be the "ladder which unites earth with heaven". Jesus proclaims that he is the fulfillment of the promise made to the Patriarch Jacob and his descendants. Jesus is the true ladder or stairway to heaven. In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth – God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Jesus' death on the cross where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his sons and daughters.

The Lord Jesus opens the way for each of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see and believe the heavenly reality with the "eyes of faith"?

Treat others like Jesus would

It's vital to start seeing people as God's treasures. It's important to learn to empathize with them. But how should these feelings be expressed? Should I slobber all over people? Should I sell my house and join the Peace corps? What does a tenderhearted Christian do?

Treat people the way Jesus Christ treats you and the way you'd like to be treated. When you pray, the Lord listens attentively to every word you say. Why not treat your spouse, your children, your friends and your co-workers the same way? Slow down, turn off the television, close out any distractions and say "I'm going to listen, because I really want to hear what you have to say"

When you make a mistake, Jesus lifts you up, forgives you, and continues to treat you with love and respect. Why not do the same for the people with whom you live, work and worship? When you feel lonely and insecure, the Holy Spirit stays by your side and assures you of God's love. Why not comfort the people you love when they are going through difficult times?

Watch those choices

Living in truth is making the right choices. Here's what I mean. In the light of truth, you and I are able to see both truth and lie, both light and darkness-that which is simple, pure, and clear and that which is deceptive.
The secret, of course, is making the right choices every day. So? Watch those choices! Watch your decisions.

No married couple suddenly splits. Nobody becomes a cynic overnight. Nobody makes one leap from pinnacle of praise to the swamp of carnality. Erosion is slow and silent process based on secret choices. And isn't it remarkable? If you don't stop yourself in the downward process, last week's wrong choice doesn't mean seem quite so bad this week. In fact, in a month's time it seems like not that bad choice at all!

tomorrow's Gospel:Significance of Jesus gesture

Scripture: Luke 9:46-50
46 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.

47 But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side,

48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great."

49 John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us."

50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you."

Reflections

Are you surprised to see the disciples of Jesus arguing about who is the greatest among them? Don't we do the same thing? The appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Who doesn't cherish the ambition to be "somebody" whom others admire rather than a "nobody"? Even the psalms speak about the glory God has destined for us. "You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:5).

Jesus made a dramatic gesture by placing a child next to himself to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient world had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants.

What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor at his right side. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? The one who is humble and lowly of heart – who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child.

Jesus, himself, is our model. He came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Paul the Apostles states that Jesus "emptied himself and took the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). Jesus lowered himself (he whose place is at the right hand of God the Father) and took on our lowly nature that he might raise us up and clothe us in his divine nature.

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). If we want to be filled with God's life and power, then we need to empty ourselves of everything which stands in the way – pride, envy, self-seeking glory, vanity, and possessiveness. God wants empty vessels so he can fill them with his own glory, power, and love (2 Corinthians 4:7). Are you ready to humble yourself and to serve as Jesus did?

tomorrow's Gospel: Kingdom of God

Scripture: Luke 13:18-21
18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."

20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?

21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

Reflections

What can mustard seeds and leaven teach us about the kingdom of God? The tiny mustard seed literally grew to be a tree which attracted numerous birds because they loved the little black mustard seed it produced. God's kingdom works in a similar fashion. It starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who are receptive to God's word. And it works unseen and causes a transformation from within.

Leaven is another powerful agent of change. A lump of dough left to itself remains just what it is, a lump of dough. But when the leaven is added to it a transformation takes place which produces rich and wholesome bread when heated – the staple of life for humans. The kingdom of God produces a transformation in those who receive the new life which Jesus Christ offers. When we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Paul the Apostle says, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Do you believe in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?

Working toward vision

Vision is on my endangered character quality list, along with courage and discipline. The reason is simple : it takes too much work to be a visionary. It's much easier just to go with the flow and do what's expected. It takes courage to break out of conventional thought patterns. It takes confidence and daring to risk failure with a new idea or approach. Visionaries tend to fail many times before they ever succeed, and most people would rather be safe and secure.

It also takes a lot of old-fashioned perspiration to be a visionary. It takes discipline to sit down with a pencil and paper and vow not to get up from your desk until you come up with five new ways to do something. It takes endurance to get on your knees and stay there until God supernaturally ignites a fresh thought in your mind. it takes hard work to plan for what could happen in five years in your business, family, marriage or ministry. But developing vision deepens and strengthens our faith.

A light for path

A healthy fear of God will do much to deter us from sin. When we have a proper fear of living Lord, we live a cleaner life. Any person who sins willfully has momentarily blocked out his fear of God. You and I can do that. When we actively engage in a sin, we consciously put aside what we know to be truth about God. We suppress the knowledge of Him in our hearts and minds. We lie to ourselves by saying. "We'll get by God won't mind so much".

I must say that this wholesome fear of the almighty has turned up missing in our era. And when it's absent, we think we may do as we please. You can live as you please if you know you're not being seen and you won't get caught. But if, down deep inside , you know there is a living and holy God who will not let you get away with sin, you will avoid sin at all costs.

Tendency to go extremes

The longer I live the more I realize the ease with which we can slip into extremes, to my own embarrassment, I find it in myself. A major prayer of mine as I grow older is "Lord, keep me balanced"

We need a balance between work and play, between kindness and firmness, between waiting and praying, between saying and spending, between wanting too much and expecting too little, between warm acceptance and keen discerment, between grace and truth.

For many folks, the struggle with imbalance is not an annual conflict- it's daily grind. The adversary of our souls is the expert of extremes. He never runs out ways of push us to the limit to get us to go so far out on one end we, cast perspective to the winds.

The longer I live, the more I must fight the tendency to go to extremes, and the more I value balance.

tomorrow's Gospel: Glory and victory in the Cross

Scripture: Luke 9:43-45
43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to his disciples,

44 "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men."

45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

ReflectionsDo you know the majesty of God? When we ascribe majesty to someone or something, we acknowledge greatness in that person or thing, and voice our respect for it. The miracles of Jesus revealed the majesty of God and displayed his grace and favor, especially towards the lowly and humble of heart. But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God's glory without the cross.

Jesus prophesied his own betrayal and crucifixion. But it did not make any sense to the disciples because it did not fit their understanding of the Messiah who was supposed to come and free his people from tyranny and oppression. Little did they know that the way to victory over sin and death would be through the cross and resurrection of Christ.

When the disciples heard Jesus' prediction of suffering and betrayal they were afraid to ask further questions. Like a person who might receive some bad news from the doctor about some tumor or disease that could destroy them and then refuse to ask any further questions, the disciples of Jesus didn't want to know any more about the consequences of possible suffering, defeat, and death on a cross.

They couldn't understand how the cross could bring victory and lead to new life and freedom in Christ. How often do we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard God's word and we know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it our full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord Jesus to show you his majesty that you may grow in reverence of him and in godly fear of his word.

An extraordinary day

Most of our days begin rather predictably. Day after day, for the most part, we could enter into our diary the same three words: "No big deal" day's don't begin with divine skywriting, angelic choirs don't waken us with celestial harmony, blending their voices in the "Hallelujah Chorus" However, days that begin uneventfully can also lead stopping experiences. Ordinary days, in fact, can become extraordinary.

How about the day Jesus arrived? There wasn't one citizen in Judea who awoke that morning expecting the day to bring such a life-changing event in the village of Bethlehem.

And what about the day of Christ's return? Homemakers will be shopping. Planes will be taking off and landing. Then suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, Christ will split the sky, and God's great plan for the future will suddenly take center stage. It could be tomorrow. It could be today.

Solitude and Serenity

An inner restlessness grows within us when we refuse to get alone with God and examine our own hearts, including our motives. As our lives begin to pick up the debris that accompanies a lot of activities and involvements, we can train ourselves to go right on, stay active, to be busy in the Lord's work. Unless we discipline ourselves to pull back, to get alone for hard work of self examination in times of solitude, serenity will remain only a distant dream. How busy we can become. and as a result, how empty! We mouth words, but they mean nothing. We find ourselves trafficking in unloved truths. We fake spirituality.

How easy to fill prey in meaningless talk, cliche-ridden responses and mindless activities! It was never meant to be that way; but, more often than not, that's the way it is. To break the habit, solitude is required. The hard work of self examination on a recurring basis is absolutely essential.

When the going gets rough

Vision is the ability to see God's presence, to perceive God's power, to focus on God's plan in spite of the obstacles.

When we have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic. Your attitude stays positive rather than negative. Not foolishly positive, as though in fantasy, for you are reading God into circumstances, So when a situation comes that cuts your feet out from under you, you don't throw up your arms and panic. You don't give up, Instead, you say "Lord, this is Your moment. This is where You take charge. Your on this."

This is nothing more than having a strong belief in power of the God; having confidence in others around you who are in similar battles with you and, yes, having confidence in yourself, by the grace of God. Refusing it to give in to the temptation, cynicism and doubt. It's hanging tough when going gets rough.