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Perseverance is a part of the Christian character that helps secure the victory over Satan.  After giving the specific elements of the Christian armor, Paul writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).  Paul adds prayer and perseverance to the list of elements that must equip the Christian soldier in the fight against sin.
What is Perseverance?  Perseverance denotes, “to continue steadfastly in a thing and give unremitting care to it.”  The word literally means, “be strong towards.” It is intensive in form.  The word assumes that a trial or challenge is in view.  The challenge is formidable and demanding.  To persevere is to stand steadfastly in the face of the challenge, no matter what it is or how intense it might be.
Sources of Strength.
You cannot win over Satan using merely your own strength, but you must bring something to the fight.  Jesus Christ secures the victory for us, but we must believe and obey Him.  We must be in Christ and He must be in us.  If we fail to be one with Christ or if we abandon our position in Christ we will fail.  Spiritual union with Christ is indispensable to personal victory over sin and Satan.  Paul also adds something else:  the prayers of the saints.  Three sources of strength emerge:  (1) our own grit; (2) the Lord Jesus Christ; and (3) fellow Christians.
Aspects of Perseverance.
Consider the following aspects of perseverance:
1.  Endurance over Time (Keep Going!).  Consider the example of  Moses during the Wilderness Wanderings (40 years).  Moses dealt with all sorts of hardships:  the sin of the people at Sinai, the murmuring of God’s people for food and water, challenges to his leadership from Aaron and Miriam (within his own family) and from Korah, Dathan and Abiram (from without his own family), enemies from outside of Israel threatened, and nations such as Edom would not cooperate or help when needed.  Through it all, Moses kept going!  He persevered.
2.  A strong and positive will (keep positive).  A perfect example of the spirit needed is given by the apostle Paul.  Paul never complained even thought he faced many trials (II Cor. 11:21-28).  Paul kept a positive attitude in the face of many challenges.  He stated, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
3.  Focus on the mission (keep focused).  Even though the apostle Paul encountered many difficult situations, he never quit.  He states, “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto these things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
4.  Never journey alone (keep God close).  David is a good example of this trait.  David believed that the LORD was his shepherd and would lead him in the paths of righteousness.  When you walk with God, you never walk alone!
5.  Stay committed (keep faith).  Jesus is our perfect example for this trait.  When Jesus faced the trial of the cross, he “committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet. 2:23).  Jesus faced death with unwavering faith in God.  That’s perseverance.
6.  Don’t lose your passion (keep loving).  While Jesus’ own disciples forsook Him, His love for them would not permit Him to forsake them.  He loved them unto the end (John 13:1).  Love endureth all things!  That’s perseverance.
Hardships are inevitable.  Perseverance will be needed to triumph over them.