My friend signs her notes KOKO, which means keep on keeping on. In other words, when life is difficult, stay the course, don’t give up, go the extra mile, and keep being a witness for Christ.
In some respects, KOKO is easier on paper than it is in person. There are times when we get weary and struggle in our faith. In those moments of frustration or discouragement, we need to dig deep within ourselves for the motivation to continue. Walking the Christian road alone is not sufficient in itself. We need to lean on one another, and tap into our faith in Jesus for strength.
The early Christians had incredible faith and endurance. They are true examples of KOKO. If they had given up, would the Christian church exist today?
Paul and Silas were among those who suffered for Christ. They were on their way to the house of prayer when a young slave girl repeatedly mocked them. After several days of her repeated chanting, Paul demanded that the evil spirit leave the girl in the name of Jesus. The owners of the slave girl were furious because they earned a great deal of money from their fortune telling slave. They immediately demanded that Paul and Silas be thrown into prison.
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:22-24).
This imprisonment was much different than prison today. They were stripped of their clothing, which also stripped them of their dignity. They were severely beaten. As if their pain and agony wasn’t enough to keep them in prison, they were shackled deep within the prison. A place where only the worst prisoners were kept.
Just one of those abuses is enough to shake a person’s KOKO attitude, but not Paul and Silas. Rather than giving up, they praised Jesus! “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25).
They possessed such a deep faith that they were able to praise God in their horrible prison conditions. I wonder, do you and I have that much faith today? Since Paul and Silas had a keep on keeping on attitude, the prison guard and his family came to know Jesus as their Savior that evening. He also had compassion for Paul and Silas, as he nursed their wounds and took them to his home.
In order for Paul and Silas to dig deep within themselves to endure imprisonment, they praised the Lord. As God always does, He took their horrible circumstances and turned it into a great witness for Jesus. What a testimony of God’s power and love!
Never give up. Never allow yourself to be beaten down. When difficulties arise, dig deep within and allow the Hole Spirit to lift you above your circumstances. When you keep on keeping on, God will always meet you where you are. Over and over again, He will turn your situation into a God moment, where He turns your circumstance into a testimony of His greatness!
So…KOKO my dear friend! How do you plan to stay motivated in 2021?
