What does it take to keep following God when the road gets hard? In this Sunday message from October 4, 2026, Pastor Linda Reese taught on having a steadfast heart.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Psalm 57:7 (KJV)

A steadfast heart has made up its mind. We have decided to follow God and make heaven our home, and we don’t plan to change our minds. Pastor Linda reminded us that the devil won’t roll out the red carpet just because we got saved. Following Jesus isn’t an easy road, so we have to be determined.

Put God first, and keep going

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Family, work and home can slip into first place if we don’t choose to give that place to God. If God asks you to do something, He will give you the strength to do it. Paul wrote, “I follow after” (Philippians 3:12). Don’t get discouraged by how far you still have to go. God is pleased that you are on your way.

Come with a clean heart

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Sin we hold on to puts a wall between us and God. So ask Him to show you anything hidden, call it what it is, and confess it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). Once God forgives a sin, it’s gone. Don’t keep bringing it back up, and don’t let anyone else hold it over you.

Refuse to be offended

As long as we live around people, we will have chances to get hurt and angry. Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). When someone is rude to you, Pastor Linda said to tell yourself, “I will not be offended,” and ask God to help you forgive.

Be thankful, and keep trusting

Try making a list of everything you’re thankful for. Then say so out loud, even over coffee with a friend. “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings” (Psalm 77:12). Joshua was told to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8). As your thoughts change, your life changes.

Job lost almost everything, yet he kept serving God. “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). When we forgive and keep trusting, God can turn even our pain to good.

This week, name one person you need to forgive and one thing you’re thankful for, and bring both to God in prayer. A steadfast heart is built one choice at a time.

We’d love to sing and pray with you on a Sunday morning. Plan your visit.

Related messages: What Is Prayer?, Reasons to Pray, Bold Prayer, Persistent Faith.