Hold Fast!

The difficulties in your life may fill your thoughts with despair and your spirit may feel discouraged,
but today I want to encourage you to never give up.
Don’t give up your faith in Jesus.
Don’t give up your hope in God’s Word.
Don’t give up trusting that God will see you through your present circumstance.
Instead, hold fast!

“Let us draw near (to God’s throne) with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
Let us hold fast the profession of faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised.”
Hebrews 10:22, 23

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent.”
Revelation 3:3

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”
Hebrews 4:14

“For we are made partakers of Christ,
if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”
Hebrews 3:14

We belong in Christ’s family “if we hold fast the confidence
and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
Hebrews 3:6

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him,
rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.”
Colossians 2:6, 7

“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:13

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58

Love “beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth!”
1 Corinthians 13:7, 8

Of Moses, God’s faithful servant and friend, it is written,
“He endured as seeing him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:27

“Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord
for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord;
that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.”
James 5:10, 11

Paul writes his testimony,
“For the cause of Christ I suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day.
Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep
by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
2 Timothy 1:12-14

“Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.”
2 Thessalonians 5:21

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
James 1:12

Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly.
Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown.”
Revelation 3:11

To those who would rather die than deny Him Jesus speaks,
“I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is:
and thou holdest fast my name and hast not denied my faith.”
Revelation 2:13

“Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life,
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
2 Timothy 2:3, 4

Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies thru His eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts and in His mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror.

Stand then in His great might, with all His strength endued,
And take to arm you for the fight the panoply of God.
That having all things done, and all your conflicts past,
Ye may o’ercome thru Christ alone and stand entire at last.

Stand then against your foes, in close and firm array;
Legions of wily fiends oppose throughout the evil day;
But meet the sons of night, and mock their vain design,
Armed in the arms of heavenly light, of righteousness divine.

Leave no unguarded place, no weakness of the soul,
Take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole;
Indissolubly joined, to battle all proceed;
But arm yourselves with all the mind that was in Christ, your Head.

But, above all, lay hold on faith's victorious shield;
Armed with that adamant and gold, be sure to win the field:
If faith surround your heart, Satan shall be subdued,
Repelled his every fiery dart, and quenched with Jesus’ blood.

Jesus hath died for you! What can His love withstand?
Believe, hold fast your shield, and who shall pluck you from His hand?
Believe that Jesus reigns; all power to Him is given:
Believe, till freed from sin's remains; believe yourselves to Heaven.

To keep your armor bright, attend with constant care,
Still walking in your Captain's sight, and watching unto prayer.
Ready for all alarms, steadfastly set your face,
And always exercise your arms, and use your every grace.

Pray without ceasing, pray, your Captain gives the word;
His summons cheerfully obey and call upon the Lord;
To God your every want in instant prayer display,
Pray always; pray and never faint; pray, without ceasing, pray!

In fellowship alone, to God with faith draw near;
Approach His courts, besiege His throne with all the powers of prayer:
Go to His temple, go, nor from His altar move;
Let every house His worship know, and every heart His love.

To God your spirits dart, your souls in words declare,
Or groan, to Him Who reads the heart, the unutterable prayer:
His mercy now implore, and now show forth His praise,
In shouts, or silent awe, adore His miracles of grace.

Pour out your souls to God, and bow them with your knees,
And spread your hearts and hands abroad, and pray for Zion's peace;
Your guides and brethren bear for ever on your mind;
Extend the arms of mighty prayer, in grasping all mankind.

From strength to strength go on, wrestle and fight and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down and win the well fought day.
Still let the Spirit cry in all His soldiers, 'Come!'
'Til Christ the Lord descends from high and takes the conquerors home.

By Charles Wesley