I like the word steadfast. It makes me think of strength, reliability, faithfulness, immovability, and trustworthiness. I would like to be considered steadfast - a steadfast friend, a steadfast worker who is strong and reliable, faithful and immovable and trustworthy.

I try to be steadfast in my faith life. I go to church, make a point of talking to God in prayer, try to live according to Jesus’ way of love. For all my efforts, I invariably discover that I’m not the steadfast person I want to be. I stumble and fail. I am unfaithful and weak. I cannot keep my own heart pure or my spirit steadfast.

When I fall, when my heart cries out to God to step in and fix my failings, then it is He who is steadfast. He is strong, faithful, and trustworthy. He gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to draw and keep me close to Him, to strengthen my weak faith, and to remind me of the purity of heart Christ won for us on the cross. Every day the unfailing, steadfast love of God creates in me a new, clean heart, and in His forgiveness I am strong.