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G - Gumption over Giving up

Gumption means being brave and gutsy and doing something with energy and determination. I believe we really need to get some godly gumption in our giant-sized battles. In all honesty, my natural reaction to giants in my life is to want to curl up on the couch, wrap myself in a blanket and spend time with my two favourite therapists, Ben and Jerry! But we need to get a fighting spirit when up against giants. We need to get to the place where we stand strong. We need to get some guts and some godly gumption.

I love watching the film ‘The Holiday’ - my favorite storyline is with Kate Winslet's character Iris. For years, this slimy man called Jasper has led her on. He gets engaged to another woman near the start of the film but continues stringing Iris along, giving her hope that he is still interested in her. Nearer to the end of the film, the cute little man next door called Arthur, who Iris has built a friendship with, tells her he sees her as a leading lady type person, and that he can see she has gumption. Jasper comes to try it on with her in America, and she sends him packing. He says to her, “Iris - what has gotten into you?” And she says, “I don’t know, but I think it’s something resembling gumption!” I want to stand up and holler every time I watch this scene! Taxi for Jasper. Iris has got gumption. #jogonjasper

I think we, too, need to get some gumption - of the godly kind. We need courage, guts, energy and determination in our battle. We need to decide that we are no longer willing to be dictated to by a giant, and as Iris did, we should develop the ability to unleash the gumption within.

We need a similar attitude to David's, where we don’t take the bait and are brave, with a renewed fight in us to go again and not give up in defeat.

One of the biggest things I believe we need to do to gain some godly gumption is to take control of our thoughts. The Bible directs us to take our thoughts captive (2 Cor 10:5). We don’t have to get on board with every negative thought that comes into our minds. We can become strong by choosing to reflect on things that add to our strength and that enable us to develop a gutsy, gumption-filled attitude, as displayed by David.