Steadfast Dedication
Hello friends and welcome back to Dedicate! In the last part of this series, we mentioned how dedication and perseverance are intertwined. We also defined perseverance and found that it is also linked with words like overcomer and unmovable (rooted and grounded in the word of God). Which is funny because I feel like dedicated can be described with these words as well.
I ended the last blog by saying: I want to be an overcomer, I want to be unmovable in my faith, and I want to be steadfast in the faith. I want to have steadfast behavior. So, what exactly is steadfast behavior?
To figure out what steadfast behavior is, first we need to define the word 'steadfast' - resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. Now let's break up the word. Stead: the place or role that someone or something should have or fill. Other words for stead are standing, footing, and position. I hear the wordless groan... rise... I also, can't help but pull the word 'steady' from 'stead'. Steady: firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving. I will not be shaken... Steadfast... Stead firm... Stand... RISE...
I have something interesting to tell you, God gave me the word stand before He gave me the word dedicate. So, naturally I thought my word was stand. I even went as far as taking photos for what I thought was a 'stand' or 'rise' series. I will put one of the photos in the thumbnail of this blog. But, what was actually happening was this: He was giving me the outcome of dedication before my Dedicate series even began.
That is why the word 'rise' became part of the advertising for this series. As an afterthought, I added 'be still' because dedication isn't just about rising, standing, doing - but it's also about being still, listening for God, and reading His word.
Now let's define the second part of steadfast. Fast: moving or capable of moving at high speed. So, 'stead' is rising and taking position and 'fast' is capable of moving. This reminds me of the armor of God, specifically the feet.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast plate of righteousness in place, and the feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:13-15
Stand appears a lot in the gospel about the armor. I never noticed that until now. (If you want to know about the full armor of God, read it in Ephesians 6:10-20 or read my blog 'The Full Armor' where I go in depth about the subject.) I will leave the link to that blog here:
The feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace... Our feet must be fitted with the readiness to stand. Our feet must be planted and rooted in the gospel of peace. Our feet, fitted with readiness... taking position... capable of moving.... ready to jump up with haste... steadfast... ready to show dedication... unwavering...
Our feet carry us where we need to go, so we must carry His teachings and the proclamation that we are saved by grace (the good news) with us everywhere we go. This is steadfast behavior. Let's read the definition again, steadfast: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. Can I add to this definition with 'fitted with the armor of God'?
So, what does steadfast have to do with dedication? Steadfast is the action response to dedication. When we are dedicated to God, we have this steadfast behavior. There is one more definition I want to add to this blog.
Stand: to have or maintain an upright position supported by one's feet. I want my feet to be fitted with the armor. I want to maintain an upright position. Upright meaning an honorable position - honorable to God that is. I want to show my dedication with my movement and with my sitting still.
He says, "Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 48:10
Being still... we will go over that in the next blog, but for now, smile and clothe yourself in the armor of God. To be fitted with garments such as these is sure-proof of your dedication.
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