what it's going to take in Laurel's Prosebox journal book

Behold, we count them happy which endure. James 5:11

What is it going to take to get through this? It’s going to be very hard, but this is normal. We are, after all, carrying our cross and following Him on the narrow path.

First of all, for us it is going to take repentance.

Let us ponder that for a minute.

Then it will take prayer and humble submission to the will of God, ie “Not my will, but Thy will be done”. It will take holy living, obedience to the Word of God, humility of heart, and quiet listening as He speaks to us. It’s going to take being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. It’s going to take childlike dependence on our Father, surrendered trust in Him and love for Him above all things and all others.

It’s going to take being thankful for all things and serving one another in love. It’s going to take loving our neighbor, loving our enemies, and praying for them. It’s going to take preparing to lay down our life for our friends. It’s going to take doing what Jesus commands us.

It’s going to take a real love of the truth. It’s going to take wisdom from above. It’s going to take much discernment and the courage to boldly speak the truth in love. It’s going to take remembering God’s words and comforting ourselves with His promises.

It’s going to take separation from “this world”. It’s going to take delving actively into the spiritual fight against the principalities and powers, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s going to take allegiance to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, above all men and nations, above all kings and kingdoms. It’s going to take undivided, abandoned worship and love to Christ.