Don’t Stop Short & Don’t Stop Believing

As we come to the close of 2025 and prepare to cross over into 2026, I want to speak a word of encouragement, hope, and strength into your heart this Christmas.  This Christmas season carries a powerful reminder wrapped inside the message of 2 Kings 13:14-20 – “Don’t Stop Short & Don’t Stop Believing, Keep Aiming toward God’s Promises & Toward His Victory.”

 

2 Kings 13:14-20 records the final moments of the prophet Elisha’s life and his last prophetic interaction with King Joash of Israel. Joash, visits the dying prophet and weeps, recognizing Elisha as Israel’s true spiritual strength.  The King knows that Elisha is a true prophet of God and a man who carried an unusual measure (double portion) of God’s power and truth and was seeking strength, direction, and hope against the Syrian army.

 

Elisha instructs Joash to shoot an arrow eastward, symbolizing God’s promise of victory and deliverance over Syria.  Then Elisha tells him to strike the ground with the remaining arrows, but Joash stops after three strikes showing limited zeal and incomplete obedience.  Elisha becomes upset and tells him that because he didn’t obey or persist, Israel will win only three victories instead of total deliverance.  Soon after, Elisha dies, marking the end of an era of prophetic power in Israel.

 

How many times have we stopped short?  How many times have we struck the ground a few times but then let discouragement, delay, or doubt cause us to step back or even second guess ourselves in what the Lord spoke?  How often have we let passion fade, zeal diminish, or obedience become partial?  How often have we stopped holding onto to God’s promises because we didn’t see immediate results?

 

This passage calls us, especially in this Christmas season, to keep striking the ground, to keep standing on what God has spoken, and to keep believing even when circumstances feel unchanged.  My friends, press in with faith, expectancy, and obedience.

 

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of our hope. He is the assurance that God’s promises always find their “Yes and Amen.”

 

Just as Elisha told King Joash to open the east window, Christmas reminds us to open our hearts toward the Light of the World.  The east is where the sun rises, where light breaks into darkness and at Christmas, Jesus, the true Sunrise from on high, enters on the world with hope, mercy, and new beginnings.

 

Elisha then told the king to shoot the arrow, calling it “the arrow of the Lord’s salvation.”  Christmas is God’s declaration that salvation has already been released and not by human strength but by the coming of our Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace—Jesus.

 

But then came the moment of testing:  Joash struck the ground only three times, stopping short of the fullness God intended.  Christmas invites you to – “Don’t stop short, Don’t stop believing, and Don’t stop striking.” 

 

For our Savior has come, and He is calling you, encouraging you, and supporting YOU.

1. Aim your focus toward Him, Christ the King.
2. Partner with His plan rather than shrinking back.
3. Keep striking the ground in faith meaning keep praying, keep hoping, keep pursuing and holding onto His promises—even when you don’t yet see the breakthrough—yet.

 

The message of Christmas from this passage is God has already released His victory over your life through Jesus.  He is inviting YOU to take your arrows and respond in faith boldly, consistently, without hesitation, or fear of disappointment.

 

God is not done as YOU are closer than you think.  Your Savior is already on the move on your behalf so don’t stop short and don’t stop believing for Jesus is the arrow of salvation for you, your family, and this world.

 

Christmas Proclamations Going Fourth as Arrows

• I proclaim loudly and clearly that Jesus Christ is the Arrow of the Lord’s Victory shot from the heart of the Father straight into the darkness of this world to pierce sin, shatter bondage, and bring everlasting deliverance.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior sent for YOU, and to every nation for He is the one who rescues, redeems, and restores.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Light of the World, breaking through every shadow, every lie, and every place where hopelessness once lived. His light can never be extinguished.
• I proclaim that Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us, God for us, God in us in every season, in every fear, in every battle. He is present and powerful.  Jesus is our Prince of Peace, establishing peace in your home, peace in your heart, peace in your mind, and peace in every storm you face.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, the One who gives divine guidance, wisdom, clarity, and understanding in the moments you feel lost or overwhelmed.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Word made flesh and He came near, He dwelt among us, He revealed the Father’s heart, and He fulfilled every promise spoken through the prophets.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Gift of Heaven and the greatest gift ever given, the fulfillment of every longing and the answer to every cry of the human heart.
• I proclaim that Jesus is the Miracle of Christmas – God’s love wrapped in flesh, set as the divine arrow that never misses its target and never fails to accomplish the Father’s purpose.
• And I proclaim – A Very Merry, Blessed Christmas to you and yours!

 

As We Stand at the Close of Another Year…

Our hearts return again to the miracle of Christmas—the staggering truth that God stepped into our world as Emmanuel, God with us.

 

For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given… And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

 

He is the One who guides us with wisdom, strengthens us with power, sustains us with unfailing love, and surrounds us with His peace.  And as His people, we respond to His goodness with lives marked by gratitude, generosity, and faith.

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above.

 James 1:17

&

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.

2 Corinthians 9:1

 

As we reflect on all God has done this past year—the lives touched, the hearts restored, the families reconciled—through our new Freedom House Sanctification & Transformation Training 201 and individual and family Prayer Counseling sessions—we recognize that none of it happens without the faithful partnership of people like you.  Your giving becomes part of God’s story, and your generosity becomes ministry, impact, and transformation.

 

We humbly invite you to prayerfully consider a yearend-offering that will help us to end this year well as we continue to proclaim hope, healing, freedom, and the love of Christ through Freedom House Ministry.  Thank you so much from my heart to yours for your generosity at this special time of year.

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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