Endurance: A Spiritual
Reinforcement
Endurance: A Spiritual
Reinforcement
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Galatians 6:9
Endurance
You know his proven character…” Philippians 2:22
Endurance is the character trait for the month of May. Listed below are suggestions that
could be used as a springboard to partner with NRCA teachers in instructing and
explaining this principle to your children.
Definition – Continuing to do right during times of weariness, pain, or opposition;
Working hard without giving up; Consistent attention to quality work; remaining focused
on your goal; Sense of commitment and duty; The inner strength to pursue a goal or task
Antonym – apathy, lack, laziness, lethargy, weakness
Key Verse – “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
Related Hymns and Choruses – Sing Songs with Your Children! Focus on Endurance
Songs.
*He Giveth More Grace (Annie Johnson Flint) http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/nt/723
*O Perfect Love Hymn (Dorothy F. Gurney) http://www.hymns.me.uk/o-perfect-love-
hymn.htm)
Bible Verses Related to Endurance
Spend several evenings looking at just one of these verses at a time. Don't forget to ask
your children the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? Discuss with
your family what each verse teaches about the character quality of Endurance and give
vital application of how this quality can be applied to your family. Choose several verses
to memorize together as a family. All of the verses are from the New King James Version
of the Bible.
*For you have need of endurance (Hebrews 10:36)
*Run with endurance the race that (Hebrews 12:1)
*What persecutions I endured (2 Timothy 3:11)
*He has patiently endured (Hebrews 6:15)
*For consider Him who endured (Hebrews 12:3)
*Goodness of God endures (Psalm 52:1)
*And His truth endures (Psalm 100:5)
*His righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:3)
*For His mercy endures (Psalm 136:1)
*Word of the Lord endures (I Peter 1:25)
Bible Stories as a part of your family devotions. All of these stories emphasize
Endurance.
*The Story of the Sower (Luke 8:4-8, 11-15)
*The Story of Job (Book of Job)
*The Building of Solomon's Temple (1Kings 6)
*Nehemiah Restoring the Wall around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4)
Character Definitions of Endurance
Endurance is one of the true tests of our Christian faith. Our love for God is not measured
by how well we begin but rather by how well we finish. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, “The end of
a thing is better than its beginning.” The apostle Paul often referred to the Christian life as
the running of a long distance race.
# Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in
such a way that you may obtain it. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air. 1 Corinthians 9:24, 26
# And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I
might run, or had run, in vain. Galatians 2:2
# You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5:7
# Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run
in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:16
# Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
#And, nearing the end of his ministry, Paul wrote to his friend Timothy of finishing his
own personal race. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
How to Demonstrate Endurance
at Home
*At home you can practice endurance by being a good family member. For example,
setting a goal to keep your room cleaned. You start by doing a big clean-up on a day like
Saturday when you have plenty of time to complete the job. If your room is very messy,
you may want to work for 30 minutes in one area, then take a 10 minute break. Hopefully,
by lunch time, your room will be completely cleaned. The commitment comes when you
decide and follow-through on keeping your room cleaned daily.
*Save up your money and do extra chores to buy something special.
*Help a younger sibling learn to ride a bicycle or play a new game.
*Spend hours practicing to play an instrument.
at School
*In school, you can practice endurance by being a good student. For example, setting a
goal to make a "100" on your spelling test. Your commitment is to do your homework
every night in spelling and study your words. By Thursday evening, you are reviewing
your words and know how to spell each one.
*Try a new sport or skill that is difficult and don’t quit.
*Study and work hard to improve your grades.
*Try something again, even if you failed the first time. Remember you had to learn to walk
before you could run!
The "I Wills" of Endurance
*I will keep trying when the work or task becomes challenging
*I will finish assignments
*I will keep practicing
*I will stick with the team
*I will find my talents and develop them
*I will work to eliminate bad habits
*I will exercise self-control
A Story to Share with Your Children
The Tortoise and the Hare
There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing
him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the
forest gathered to watch.
Hare ran down the road for a while and then paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and
Steady and cried out, "How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at
your slow, slow pace?"
Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, "There is plenty of
time to relax."
Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish
line.
The animals that were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare.
Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over
the line.
After that, Hare always reminded himself, "Don't brag about your lightning pace, for Slow
and Steady won the race!"