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Persistence Pays

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will."¹

About Thomas Edison's many attempts in seeking to invent the electric light bulb Susan Hayward in Begin It Now wrote, "Two dejected assistants of Thomas Edison said, 'We've just completed our 700th experiment and we still don't have the answer. We have failed.'

"'No, my friends, you haven't failed,' replied Mr. Edison, 'it's just that we know more about this subject than anyone else alive. And we're closer to finding the answer because now we know 700 things not to do. Don't call it a mistake. Call it an education.'"²

Persistence paid off very well for Edison … for us too because eventually he succeeded in perfecting the electric light bulb. Persistence in any worthwhile cause always pays rich dividends. And better still—persistence in God's work pays eternal dividends.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be persistent in serving, obeying, trusting and loving you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6 (TLB)(NLT).
2. Cited in Bits & Pieces.

Note: If you have never received Jesus as your Savior or received God's forgiveness, I encourage you to do that today. To do so see "God's Invitation" at: www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or for further help read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

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