Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Maintain.
A quick look in the dictionary reveals “to keep in existence or continuance.” But then there is more: “to keep in an appropriate condition, operation, or force; keep unimpaired” (all definitions from dictionary.com).
It’s the last definition which grabs my attention – “to keep unimpaired.”
It brings to mind a reading from my devotional:
“Maintain a vital touch with God yourself, and you may well be used to restore that same vital touch with Him to those who may seem to have lost it.”
(from A Table in the Wilderness by Watchman Nee)
Our walk with God is critical to maintain not only for ourselves, but for those around us as well.
“I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” (John 17:15-19, NLT)
We maintain so much in our lives – maintaining our health, our homes, our jobs, our finances, and our families.
These days are challenging and more than ever, we need to maintain our faith, our hope, our joy, our strength, and our courage.
We will only be able to reach out to those around us with encouragement,
and with the love of Jesus,
as we maintain our own spiritual walk with God each day.
Lord, in these most trying days
when all of my soul’s in play,
please help me to find the ways
to not let faith fall away.
It has been so hard and long,
this unwanted road I’ve travelled.
Please help that I stay pstrong,
with a hope that’s not unravelled,
looking past the rising hills,
looking past the squirrelly bend,
looking, though the effort kills
my heart, unto my Journey’s End,
when at last I find my place
in Your arms, unending grace.
I love the different directions we all go with the various words on #FMF. Yours are always thought-provoking.
Walking with Jesus on our journey is the only way to maintain our “appropriate condition.” Thank you for this uplifting message, Joanne.
Joanne, may the Spirit of God strengthen us “to maintain our faith, our hope, our joy, our strength, and our courage” so that we might glorify His Name and encourage others in their journey with Him.
Amen. Joining you in that prayer, Lisa.
Helpful remind, Joanne. Thanks.
maintaining our walk with the Lord makes the rest of the stuff around us much more manageable doesn’t it? FMF11
Maintaining our walk with the Lord is the most important and helpful thing we can do, and I like how you emphasized that it’s good for us and good for others too. Visiting from FMF#13
I really like the excerpt you shared from your devotional.
“please help me to find the ways to not let faith fall away.” Andrew, in these trying days, this should be the prayer we all pray. Friend, the Lord will help you cling to your faith.