Determination

Midway through the second quarter, the Colts were down 21-3 with Peyton Manning having just thrown a pass which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the Patriot cornerback. But something happened on the road to defeat for the Colts. Manning and his teammates rallied. They refused to give in to defeatist despair and through grim determination, they fought back and with about a minute left in the game took the lead for the first time.

Many of us find ourselves in that situation. Bad choices, wrong judgements, careless execution of the principles we’ve learned to live by, and even situations beyond our control often seem to have a life of their own whose sole purpose is to humiliate, denigrate, decimate, and ultimately defeat us.

Determination is defined as “firmness of purpose; resoluteness.” Those of us who have Christ living within us should understand that our “determination” to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives is empowered and undergirded by His power. We are not left to our own devices, our own abilities, or our own understanding.

When life seems about to come crashing down upon us, we must determine to not give in to despair, fear, and frustration. We must believe that Jesus Christ is the place of beginning again, and we must move forward with determination born out of that belief.

The Colts went to the Super Bowl even though they led for only a little over one minute of a sixty minute game. Our victory is not earned by the final score. We do not have to wait on the sidelines to see if the defense can stop the other team. Our victory is already decided when we determine to walk by faith through the battle. He who fights for us will preserve us by His power.