Don’t Give Up!

May 03, 2005

Author: Rev. Kip B. Banks, Sr.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and

you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

Don’t Give Up!

Last night the Washington Wizards basketball team guard Juan Dixon taught us something. He taught us that we should never ever give-up.

As you may be aware, the Washington Wizards have been engaged in a playoff battle with the Chicago Bulls. Over the first several games of the series, Dixon played abysmally. He looked lost on the court, he made very few of his shots, and he was being taken advantage of on defense.

But Juan Dixon didn’t give up. He begged his coach not to lose faith in him. He told his coach, Eddie Jordon, that he was going to work harder and indeed he backed up his words with action. The news reports say he came to the Wizards practice session early and stayed late afterwards shooting over 1,000 basketball shots.

What was the result? The result was remarkable. Last night, Juan Dixon played like a man on fire. He scored a game high 35 points, he shot nearly 75 percent, he was making baskets all over the court – threes, pull-ups, mid-rangers and floaters – and the Washington Wizards won the game.

We should follow Juan Dixon’s example. Perhaps there's an area in your life that you're struggling with. It could be a relationship issue; it could be your finances; depression; or an issue on the job. Well, the message for you today is: don’t give-up!

Instead of giving up, hold on and keep the faith. Instead of giving up, just work harder. Instead of giving up, get up earlier, practice harder and longer and increase your resolve to do your best. Keep on pushing, keep on persevering and your breakthrough will come. If we do our best, then God will do the rest!

Peace and Blessings to You,
Pastor Kip Banks
East Washington Heights Baptist Church