It is a powerful thing to continue the valuable things. The power of life is in continuity. It is a huge problem when one stops breathing. When a heart stops beating, it causes fatality. The life of the body is preserved as long as breathing continues and the heart continues to beat. The reason we cherish prayer is because the prayer is the breath of spirit in the spiritual realm. This is why Apostle Paul exhorted Christians by saying, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). Our souls live in the intimacy with God when we pray at all times in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18). In addition, our souls demonstrate unlimited potential through prayer.
Life is made of repetition and continuity. The important thing is in what we are repeating and continuing. We must not repeat and continue in just any type of activity. Repetition and continuation creates habits. When we repeat what is not good and meaningless, it becomes a habit. In the same way, when we repeat and continue what is good and meaningful, it becomes a habit. A bad habit begets a bad result, and a good habit begets a good result. There are a few things I have learned through the similarities that I found those who live excellent lives. One of them is that they all have few valuable things that they focus on. It is that they repeat and continue what they focus on. I would like to share a little wisdom on the importance of continuing the valuable things that I learned in past years.
First, make a good choice on what to continue. Choice begets result. Be very discerning when choosing. Choose the most valuable thing and continue in it. Choose what brings glory to God and is beneficial to yourself, your family, and others, and continue in it. It is very valuable to pray and read, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. It is very valuable to evangelize and offer salvation. It is very valuable to help the needy. It is very valuable to be a disciple of Christ and live as a lifelong learner. It is very valuable to serve at church, the body of Christ. It is very valuable to participate in the world mission. During the mission trip to Guatemala, I had a chance to meet three college students who were being sponsored by Compassion International and heard their testimonies. What touched my heart most was the fact that their sponsors have been sponsoring them continuously for a very long time. The one who has been sponsoring Henry, one of the college students, started sponsoring Henry when he was three and is still continuing to sponsor him now.
Second, repeatedly recognize the importance of what you're continuing. Even as we are doing the valuable work, there are times we forget the meaning or the importance of the work. That is when we are tempted to give up or cease to work. For such reason, we have to repeatedly recognize the importance of the work we are continuing. The work I'm doing as a pastoral leader is to repeatedly tell you what's important is indeed important. In addition, it is to add meaning to the work people are continuing to do. To add meaning is to add value. When I meet pastors who are faithfully serving small churches, I tell them how valuable their ministries are. As I share the word of Jesus who cherished one soul over the world, I add a new meaning to their ministries. That's when I witnessed the discouraged pastors who once considered giving up being encouraged and continuing on their pastoral ministry diligently.
Third, have people who continue the valuable work near you. Whatever it may be we are able to continue things into longevity when we do them together with others and not alone. We need a community that encourages us to continue to do the valuable things. People are able to continue and make greater effort when they are encouraged. And they are able to complete their work.
Fourth, seek the grace of God. Even when we have the desire to continue the good work, we cannot not continue to do so when we are lacking strength and resources. God has to provide strength and resources that are needed to continue the good work in order for us to continue the valuable work. God answers us with abundance to the petition we make in order to continue the valuable work.
There is a principle that we must remember when we want to continue the valuable things. It is the principle of starting small and gradually increasing it. Do not be hasty or impatient. Be careful not to overwork yourself from the beginning. However small it may be, you will gather more strength gradually when you repeat it. I am going to Korea for ministry from October 3rd through 20th. Ministry in Korea is something I've continuing to do for a long time. It is because serving the churches in Korea along with the immigrant churches in the States is a valuable work to me. I ask for your prayers. I will also be praying for you. Shalom.
Reverend Joshua Choon-Min Kang is the senior pastor of New Life Vision Church, located in Los Angeles. This is one of the weekly letters he writes to his congregation. For the original, visit www.nlvc.org.
