Runner in the Race
God’s word is meant to change our lives. James wrote in chapter 1, “if all we do is hear God’s word, we are deceiving ourselves.”
Last year, our pastor gave us a challenge in August—a 90 day challenge that was to affect our lives in such a way we would feel a 180º turn or change in our hearts and minds. It was not meant to be busy work…like our teachers would give us in school… this challenge was to truly draw us into that place of devotion and growth in Christ Jesus.
I’ll be honest—I didn’t make the 90 days—it was almost 4 months. But it was needful that I didn’t give up.
It’s like that race where you’re running well– then you stumble—lose your footing—and then observe from ground level all the rest of the runners went around you.
“Recklessly abandoned.” That’s how Sidewalk Prophets describe a follower of Christ.
“Give it all I have.”
“I wanna live like that.”
Those are word from a song—but they ring true in my heart today. I want to give HIM all I have.
Often I fail.
I fail to get up early and spend the first portion of the day.
I pray. But not as diligently as I should. Should I stop? The enemy wants us to stop. He will throw every single discouraging thought our way—until we are so weakened by depression or busyness that we stumble in this race and fall…
What does that race look like?
A bunch of runners—all dressed right…running shoes, running shorts…sweatbands, shirts with our number pasted on it…all sweating—arms tucked in tight but swinging in rhythmic motion to the pounding of the shoes on the pavement. Sweat runs in the eyes…we blink it away. Keep going. Focus.
My first thoughts start—“Oh, they are faster”.
“Their shoes are better—they are more equipped”.
“They studied running”…
“Their position on the field is better—surely they got here first to get that position…”
HOG WASH. All of it. Every runner is doing the same thing. Sweating…and running.
One stumbles—and the others cannot stop—they must stay focused…otherwise they will lose their place…
No one stops.
They’ve got their eyes on the goal.
But at some point in the stumble our eyes shift from the goal to our bleeding flesh…and we almost want to get out of the race completely.
Yet something –an inner voice struggles to be heard. “GET UP!” “GET MOVING!”
It matters not that you win this particular race…or even place…but it matters that you keep going.
The only winners are those who actually finish.
Time is not the issue—completing is. But we don’t think that….we don’t know that. We think it’s about who does what –when and how.
Then there are those watching—perhaps silently cheering you on!
Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
I don’t know that we ever hear them…but they are there.
Every time we go to the Word it should be as if we are layering on more of Jesus. We should be absorbing His Spirit through the reading—studying—and time spent in prayer. That is how we “suit up for this race”.
12 men were chosen by Jesus to teach and train. To become like Him.
These guys were the most ordinary of ordinary.
They were just like us…runners in a race…
And they did not give up.
Today, suit up. Tighten your shoe laces, straighten your garments. Grab your bottle of water…(Water of Life–Holy Spirit). Get in the line, mark your spot–get ready to run.
Either you will or you won’t. There is a crowd gathered…Come on….let’s go.
Run to finish. Run to win.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
(c) Angie Knight, The Knightly News 2013. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
(c) Photo, Iris Nelson. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Amen amen sweet sis.
Amen my friend. Yes, I get weary some times, but when I do, I read His Word to get comforted.