We Are Diligent to Complete Our Tasks: Our 24 Family Ways #13

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"Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains." -William Penn

Way #13

 We are diligent to complete a task promptly and thoroughly when asked. 

Memory verse:

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing. But the soul of the diligent is made fat."

Proverbs 13:5

Quitting jobs, quitting school, quitting marriage, quitting friendship, quitting on God … quitting in general seems to have become acceptable in every area of our lives. Often we use the word “grace” as a covering for all people in all circumstances who make wrong decisions, fail to be wise, or prove to be lazy.

It can sneak up on us, this habit of blaming others for our difficulties instead of choosing to be diligent to overcome our challenges. I believe a lack of godly character is at the base of Christians having no impact on culture. Christians are as likely to accept mediocrity as non-believers.

Yet, God gave us the capacity to "muscle-up" in life in order to be conquerors, to defeat the darkness, to finish a task to completion. How many times have I been sorely tempted to give up on some of my ideals. My children have tested my patience and faith. Homeschooling challenged me to the core. Repetitive financial issues have tempted me to believe that God did not hear my prayers. People's negative voices in my life have caused me to second-guess my ideals, and tempted me to think they did not matter.

Yet, God's word kept telling me to persevere, to be diligent, to overcome, to keep going. And by His grace, now I am so very thankful that He increased my capacity to work hard. He stretched my faith so that I could live long enough to see His faithfulness. He kept me faithful through the hard times in marriage, so now I have a heritage of unconditional love. I am so grateful!

We read that one of the fruits of the spirit is faithfulness--staying diligent to remain focused on the task or issue at hand. Paul, who suffered so much at the hands of persecutors, knew the importance of diligence.

"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

Learning the importance of diligence in every endeavor of life is essential for fruitfulness in life. Though the world is in rebellion against God and His design, and thus our work is challenging and our relationships are fraught with pain, His spirit of redemption comes alive when we are diligent to complete the tasks we have been given. Diligence is the energy, the inner will of determination to keep going, that provides the power to overcome in life.

I was not prepared to do housework, or to wake up with littles all night and then be responsive during the day! Diligence is a road, a direction, not a perfect rule to keep. It is moving toward maturity, not perfection.

When a mama trains her children, bit by bit, to work harder, to keep going, to develop an inner sense of integrity in work, faith, service, friendship, and love, that child will become strong inside. To have a habit of diligence, to own the value of diligence in one's heart, provides the power and strength to keep going--to move the mountains in his life.

Daily life is where diligence is trained and learned. As our children watch our diligence, and experience our love, they develop a heart to be diligent as we are. Giving children work to complete develops moral strength. Helping children to persevere in difficult childhood relationships teaches them to be faithful in adult relationships.

If we do our children the disservice of taking them out of all difficult circumstances, then we cheat them from the opportunity to develop strong character. Diligence is a gold key to becoming productive and influential in life.

This week's way is crucial to the core of our children's character and will help them to learn to stay faithful in times of doubt. When they learn to be diligent in one area, it spills into all areas of life. We do it through gentle, daily, little by little, consistent training during their time in our home.

When diligence grows in the heart of the child, he will become a person who is reliable. This child will be more likely to get the jobs she hopes for, as she works hard to reach ideals. If you love your child, you must patiently pursue this character quality in the life of your home and in your own life, and then you will see the ultimate reward of your own faith, as you learn to wait on God patiently and to work diligently in life to bring Him glory. May God find our hearts and works diligent as we see the blessing of His ways, in His time.

If you have felt the stress of life with all its demands, be sure to get your copy of Help, I’m Drowning. You will find companionship for your stresses, compassion and a way forward right where you are.