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Hi,
I’ll admit it, I thought it was over.
With only 4 minutes left in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, the atmosphere was electric. The Brisbane Lions were 17 points behind Fremantle, the biggest margin throughout the game. The Dockers had momentum; their supporters were wildly celebrating, and Brisbane seemed out of answers.
Then, in one extraordinary burst, the Lions kicked four straight goals and won by seven points, securing a third consecutive premiership, though I’m sure any Freo supporters reading this are still feeling the sting!
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had their own "action time" moment. Around midnight, bruised, chained and locked in a prison cell, they chose not to give up but to praise God. Then the unexpected happened: the earth shook, the prison doors flew open and lives were changed. Their story reminds us that praise isn't just for the easy moments, and it can be the key to breakthrough!
Clearly Paul knew a thing or two about endurance (roar of the crowd!) when he declared in Hebrews 12:1 (NIV):
"...Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
As Visionathon approaches, I’m reminded that this ministry has always been a team effort, and you are an important part of it. Because you keep showing up, every broadcast, podcast, devotion and conversation can point someone to Jesus. You pray. You give. You tell others. And together, we carry the hope of the Gospel into homes, cars, workplaces and communities across Australia and beyond.
This Visionathon, our theme is Reaching Further, Together. It’s more than a campaign line. It’s a picture of what God can do when each of us plays our part in the relay race marked out for us. We may never know this side of eternity how the timely word helped someone find God’s strength and hold on. But we do know that God can take what we offer and use it far beyond what we can see.
On a personal level, perhaps you’re praying for someone you love, carrying a burden that has lingered for years, or wondering whether anything can really change. When the odds seem stacked against us, discouragement whispers “it’s over.” But God is still at work, even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.
So, if the situation in front of you looks difficult today, don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep taking the next faithful step. The final siren hasn’t sounded, and with God, hope is never out of the contest.
With gratitude, |
