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Therefore, my beloved brothers, be"); document.writeln("steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in"); document.writeln("the Lord your labor is not in vain.¹

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We"); document.writeln("all love to accomplish things. It feels rewarding to look around and see tasks"); document.writeln("completed, deadlines met, and a job well done. We thrive when we strive for"); document.writeln("accomplishment and it helps us learn steadfastness. Even though we can\'��t always"); document.writeln("see the outward progress of our character development, our growth is reflected"); document.writeln("in our attitude. Bad attitudes usually reflect unfinished tasks and incomplete"); document.writeln("projects because we are frustrated with the feelings of failure that begin to"); document.writeln("seep in. On the other hand, a joyful attitude comes with being good stewards of"); document.writeln("our time.

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One"); document.writeln("of Aesop\'��s most famous fables is \'��The Tortoise and the Hare\'��, a story about an"); document.writeln("energetic rabbit who loses the race to the slow and steady turtle. In the"); document.writeln("beginning of the tale, the Hare had been relentlessly mocking the tortoise for"); document.writeln("being slow, to which the tortoise responds by challenging him to a foot race."); document.writeln("Amused, the Hare accepts and at the shout of: \'��GO!\'��, the Hare speeds far ahead,"); document.writeln("leaving the tortoise far behind. Feeling as though he has plenty of time, the"); document.writeln("Hare decides to take a nap. In the meantime, the steadfast Tortoise has marched"); document.writeln("along at a steady, yet unceasing, pace and eventually passes up the sleeping"); document.writeln("Hare. The Hare wakes just as the Tortoise is nearing the finish line. He takes"); document.writeln("off running as fast as he can to make up for lost time, but it\'��s too late! The"); document.writeln("Tortoise triumphantly finishes first!

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The word steadfast means fixed in"); document.writeln("direction, firm in purpose, unwavering, resolute in faith, and firmly fixed in"); document.writeln("position. The Tortoise was steadfast. He never wavered from his direction and"); document.writeln("was resolute in the belief that he could indeed accomplish this task before the"); document.writeln("Hare. Yes, the world may cheer on the Hares of this world\'�”they\'��re exciting to"); document.writeln("watch as they hurriedly move from task to task, going places\'�”fast. But if we"); document.writeln("look closely, the more detailed and difficult tasks are left behind, to be"); document.writeln("picked up by the Tortoises who will take the time to work steadily through the"); document.writeln("more meaningful and, oftentimes, more important tasks. God wants us to be"); document.writeln("diligent, steadfast in our task no matter the size, and always strive to do our"); document.writeln("work as unto the Lord. A joyous attitude is ours when we\'��re steadfast and"); document.writeln("unceasing\'�”like the Tortoise!

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Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, let the work"); document.writeln("of my hands bring honor to you. Give me the strength to remain steadfast in my"); document.writeln("tasks so that I can see the fruit of my labor and the growth in my character as"); document.writeln("I strive to be more like you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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1. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)."); document.writeln("

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Today\'��s"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

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