Don't Give Up The Ship

Don’t Give Up the Ship

In the War of 1812, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry faced what looked like certain defeat on Lake Erie. His flagship, the USS Lawrence, was shattered, his men exhausted, and the British seemed to have the upper hand. But instead of surrendering, Perry boarded another vessel, raised his battle flag that bore the words “Don’t give up the ship,” and led his men to one of the most decisive victories in American naval history.

That phrase—“Don’t give up the ship”—wasn’t just a battle cry. It was a mindset. Perry knew the fight wasn’t over until he chose to quit, and he refused to give in.

We may not be commanding warships, but every one of us has a “ship” in life. For some, it’s a dream that feels out of reach. For others, it’s a marriage, a relationship, or the hope of finishing an education. It might be the battle for your health, the care of your family, or the strength of your church. Whatever your “ship” may be, life will test you with storms, setbacks, and seasons where quitting seems easier than pressing on.

But Perry’s story reminds us that defeat isn’t final unless you surrender. Your dream isn’t lost unless you abandon it. Your marriage isn’t over unless you stop fighting for it. Your faith community isn’t gone unless you walk away.

Scripture puts it this way: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). And again we are reminded: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”(Joshua 1:9).

So raise your own flag today: “Don’t give up the ship.” Keep rowing, keep fighting, keep believing. The breakthrough may be closer than you think, and the victory may be greater than you can imagine.

Lead Like Jesus, Identify with Christ

Lead Through Stories

Learn the art of the story. I’m not sure why, but stories hold power. People gravitate toward good stories. The entertainment industry spends billions annually producing movies and stories to entertain and teach morals. The printed word is far from dead, as e-books and physical books are still in high demand. Young and older people love to see, hear, and read stories. Everyone’s favorite relative is the funny storyteller, right? Abraham Lincoln was an exceptional storyteller, which was instrumental to his rise in power. People were drawn to his charm and wit through his stories.

Everyone loves to learn new things. Universities across the globe are filled with learners. Every prominent speaker now has a masterclass or book on how they succeeded. People spend copious amounts of money on advancing their degrees. People love to learn but don’t want to feel like children back in school. They like to learn in their own time and steam. I’m sure this is why Jesus preached only one sermon in his ministry, and the rest was communicated through stories, i.e., examples. His number one phrase was, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”

Matthew 13:3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds…”

Lead by Empowering

The good physician Luke shares with us in the book of Acts chapter ten, verse thirty-eight, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ( KJV ) A good leader gets right in the dirt and does the work. A good leader doesn’t just command but sets the bar by showing the example.

Most people learn by seeing someone else do the work first, and not just hearing or reading about how to do the work. Scripture tells us in the book of Colossians, chapter one, verse fifteen, The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God…Again, we see that in Hebrews chapter one, verse three, Christ is the visible image of the invisible God… Jesus perfectly modeled the will, power, and majesty of the Father, and in turn, He commanded, demonstrated, and became the example of how to display God’s love, power, and glory here on earth. Jesus then empowered His disciples, those of His inner circle and the seventy-two in His outer circle, to preach and to do miracles. 

Mark 6:7–13 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil[a] spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.

10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. 11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

The Power of Christ-Identifying With Christ

Many Christians live a powerless life. The truth is that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Holy Spirit that we have been given as believers. The early church understood these truths. But in today’s age, it is easily forgotten. When we trust in the Lord and walk upright in His righteousness, we are empowered with an inherited authority (Acts 1:8), made possible through the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus is speaking to his disciples after He rose from the dead, and He said, “‘I have been given authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…’”. Jesus here was identifying His power and authority over all other powers and dominions, and because of this, He commands His disciples to operate through His power. In Luke 10:18-19, Jesus says, “‘Yes,’ he told them, ‘I saw Satan fall from heaven like lighting! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy,...’”. Your authority does not come from your personality, position, or human power, but by Christ’s victory on the cross alone. 

When you walk empowered by the Spirit, you receive boldness! Acts 4:31 tells us that we will receive boldness when preaching the Word of God. But further, He equips us with the Body Armor of God (Acts 10:10-17). He will equip you with the Belt of Truth, Body Armor of Righteousness, Shoes of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and Sword of the Spirit. In this armor, you can stand firm in your power to resist the enemy.  

A few simple steps to begin living in authority are:

1. Speak the Word of God with confidence. 

2. Pray with faith, not fear. 

3. Resist the enemy by speaking authority in the name of Jesus.

4. Walk in obedience by aligning yourself with God’s word. 

The enemies of authority are doubt, fear, and forgetfulness in our identity. Take these captive and speak the power of Jesus over your life! Remember that the power of the living God already resides inside of you. Today, call upon it, and watch your heart change and your circumstances come under the alignment of Heaven. -Raegan Williamson

Pratice Rightousness-Identify with Christ

Practicing Righteousness

Righteousness is not something we can earn through good works or moral effort—it is a gift from God received by faith in Christ alone. Scripture declares, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The moment we place our trust in Jesus, His righteousness is credited to our account.

Yet, this gift is not the end—it’s the beginning. From our position in Christ, we are called to bear the fruit of righteousness through righteous living. Jesus told us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). He also said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). This is an active pursuit—something we “practice” daily.

Think of a doctor practicing medicine or a lawyer practicing law. Even with years of training, they don’t get everything right all the time. In the same way, we may stumble in our practice of righteousness. But God’s Word assures us, “The righteous may fall seven times and rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). There is grace to get back up and continue walking in His ways.

Practicing righteousness means aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with God’s truth. It is forgiving as He forgave, loving as He loved, and living in a way that reflects His character. We don’t practice righteousness to earn salvation—we practice it because we have salvation. And as we walk with Him, His Spirit shapes us into the image of Christ, one day at a time.