The theme for today is: Determination.
It’s great, if not fun, to accompany Zach to his therapy sessions. Although some sessions are challenging and Zach is still inconsistent at times, he puts in the effort. He’s got the “game face” on. He’s showing a lot of determination.
Determination is not something we can muster up in ourselves. Determination is not our work. Determination is God’s work. Determination is God’s gift. It is something that God works in us through His Holy Spirit. There’s no way that we or Zach could manage to be faithful and determined against the obstacles we inevitably face: physical limitations, setbacks, struggles, trials, evil forces, getting older, illness, and the like. But by God’s grace, through the working of His Spirit with His gift of determination, we press on.
We press on by looking up. Eyes on the prize. The prize is a person. The prize is Jesus. Fix your eyes on Jesus. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
The more we press on, the more we are determined, the more we gain of Jesus Christ. It’s tempting and easy to let bitterness define us. To let fear define us. To let exhaustion define us. Pray that God doesn’t let that happen. Pray for His Spirit. God will renew your devotion to Him. He will renew your determination for Him.
So, we press on. We pursue Jesus. We are determined. We focus on Jesus and not our situation. He meets us. He always meets us at the right time. He gives us everything we need to press on. He gives us determination. Let’s get the “game face” on.
Zach enjoys listening to Alan Jackson’s Precious Memories gospel albums. Considering today’s theme, enjoy Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
Today’s Updates:
Zach has been doing pretty well in the past few days. For the most part, he’s been in good spirits and has been doing well in his therapy sessions. Sometimes he becomes very tired, and his therapy sessions will be less productive since he will not respond to very many questions or commands. Please pray that Zach will have the energy and health that he needs for his treatments and daily activities.
Zach has enjoyed his physio and OT sessions. They’re currently working on some visual-motor coordination activities. Zach enjoys the challenge of these activities and is working hard. The OT team has also been making a few more adjustments to Zach’s wheelchair to make it more practical and comfortable for him.
Zach has trouble straightening his left wrist on his own, so OT wants to work some more with his left hand and try to increase his range of motion and his motor control. Please pray that the treatments for Zach’s left hand and wrist will go well so that he can begin to use it more confidently, especially as he learns how to depend more on his left hand for regular activities.
Zach had his first session with the recreational therapy team on Monday, where they worked on getting to know Zach and the activities he normally enjoys. Please thank God with us that Zach is able to access recreational therapy at Foothills. Pray that God will bless their efforts and that he will allow Zach to do some of his favourite activities again one day.
Speech therapy has been trying to get Zach to control his inhales and exhales as a first step towards being able to purposefully use his voice. They got Zach to try blowing out a candle and blowing bubbles. This took a lot of effort for Zach, and he can’t yet coordinate strong enough exhales to blow bubbles. Please pray that Zach will improve in his ability to control his breathing. Pray that God will restore his ability to use his voice again one day.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:7-14)
