Are you Living as a Sprinter or a Long Distance Runner?
Are you living your life as a sprinter or a long distance runner?
My husband and I used to go for long walks on the canal system in Phoenix for exercise. Towards the end of one of our walks, I challenged Greg to a race. He agreed and before he knew it, I’d dashed ahead. The sprint wasn’t a long distance and so I was able to beat him to the finish line. We laugh about it to this day. I have to admit that if the distance had been much longer, I would never have won that race.
It’s almost like walking by faith.
Walking by faith requires perseverance.
Let me ask you a few questions about your faith walk.
- Do you always feel the presence of the Lord in your life?
- Do you see your prayers answered promptly?
- Do your emotions line up with what you know about what God’s Word says?
Yes, there are times when I really feel God’s presence. I am so thankful for those times as they can be like mountaintop experiences. And they carry me through the times when I know that God is with me but I don’t FEEL it.
Yes, I’ve seen Him answer my prayers. But there are times when I wait and wait and don’t see an answer. I know that He hears me and I ask believing but still …no answer. Those are the times when I must be persistent but also be open to a ‘no’ answer or a ‘not now’ or ‘I have something better in mind’. I believe that the Lord has my best interests and His glory in mind. So I learn to trust Him.
I have to admit that there are times when my emotions don’t align with what I know to be true from God’s Word. This often happens when I’m tired or stressed. But I choose to go the distance. I take out the Scriptures I’ve written on 3×5 cards to help me remember the Truth of what I know.
Reading through Hebrews 11, I see a long list of Bible heroes. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses are among those included. Verses 39-40 say:
“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
They had to walk by faith, believing God, even when they didn’t get to see the end in their lifetime on earth.
Hebrews 12: 1-3 goes on to say:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
I don’t know about you but this motivates me to never give up. There are times when my faith walk goes smoothly. God is alive and active in my life and I get to see it. But there are more times when things are rocky and life doesn’t go smoothly.
Perseverance is required to run the distance in a life of faith.
Will you choose to trust God through those tough times? Will you choose to pray and read your Bible even when you don’t feel like doing it? Will you praise Him in the good times and in the seemingly bad times? Will you commit to go the distance and not give up?
Blessings and love,
Photo Credit: Ambro Freedigitalimages.net
Such a wonderful post.
My answer is yes. I will choose to read and pray when I don’t feel like it. I will choose to trust God in spite of my circumstances. I will praise Him.
Excellent post. Thanks for the encouragement.
God has been faithful during rough times in my life and I know He will be faithful in anything that is to come. I am choosing to remember and believe! God is good – and I’m running the race with endurance!
Blessings to you Debbie! Joan
What a wonderful challenge this morning Debbie. Thank you for encouraging us to lace up and be prepared to run like champions for Him. ((blessings))
What a wonderful way to look at our journey. I love that song Runner. Sometimes while running I have to take walks – and that is OK. Sprinting is not for me! I know myself – run or walk, one step at a time. Thanks for giving me something to really think about today. God Bless!
Debbie, A+ post and one that I needed to read this evening. Oh, me, my faith has been so tested in recent months but HE has remained faithful to meet my every need.
Blessings to you, always enjoy your posts!
Debbie,
Thanks for this great post. I so identify with this illustration of running and the Christian walk. My son is a long-distance runner. He ran the NJ Marathon this year and finished well. I learn so much about life from his preparation and perseverance.
Blessings,
Susan
Thank you Debbie for these encouraging words. I needed to read them this morning before heading to work…
Life can be rough, but I can trust Him for seeing me through.
My answer to all your questions is YES and I do all by grace of God.
Perseverance is certainly what we need when we pray.
Yes, I used to feel downhearted when I THOUGHT the Lord had not answered my prayer in my time. I know now that God answers each and every prayer, as soon as He hears it. We have to be patient for the answer to come from the spiritual and manifest in the natural realm, and as we wait, we rejoice and continually give thanks.
We have a blessed assurance, that whatever the answer is,
God is for us. That whatever He answers, is because He loves us and wants the best for us and He wants us to trust Him.
Thank you for reminding us of the race we are running, with Him close by our side, whatever the speed!
Have a blessed and fruitful weekend, Debbie.
This is the secret, isn’t it… to go the distance, to put aside the things that weigh us down, including our feelings or emotions, and trust as we move forward, that God has the whole picture already planned.
Great post Debbie!
Love you sis!
Maybe not all my prayers have been answered they way I want to, yet.
But I know they have been heard and are not forgotten. Looking back I clearly can see how God was there all the time. As for tomorrow, he has promised me strength for one day at a time.
What I do know I am not running of uncertainty, I am chasing the goal which God has set us in heaven.
For that I am truly grateful. The more troublesome the world may seem, the more attractive my final goal becomes.