Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

Running the Race

By Debbie July 14, 2010 Devotion

What comes to mind when you think of running in a race?  What is needed to successfully stay in the race?

Hard work
Determination
Motivation
Preparation
Training

All of those listed above are important but something that’s absolutely necessary is …endurance.

Our faith walk is similar to running a long distance race.  It takes preparation, sacrifice and endurance.  In the book of Hebrews chapter 11, we are given a list of some of our Bible heroes including Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David and even a prostitute named Rahab.  What did each one of these people have in common? 

Hebrews 11:39 gives us the answer to that question: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.”

In Hebrews 12:1 we are given a ‘therefore’ so that we will look back on what our Bible heroes went through, especially when we tend to get weary. We are advised to throw off anything that hinders us including sin that gets us off track.  We are to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.

The remedy for persevering in our faith race is to …”fix our eyes on Jesus”. 

We have to look beyond what we see with our physical eyes.  That takes our spiritual eyes; our eyes of faith.  We can’t see the end but we know the end and we are on the winning side. 

The enemy loves to discourage us, especially when we’re being used by the Lord for His Kingdom purposes. 

If He chose to use Rahab, a prostitute and David, a murderer and adulterer, why can’t He use you or me?

I know I can all too easily slip into periods of depression when stressful situations continue and I don’t see any change happening (at least not in my time frame).   When I’m depressed, it’s easy to let down my guard in other areas of my life.  And then I’m not as effective and my endurance starts lagging.  I begin to depend on my flesh and believe me, that’s trouble.

 

So, what do I need to do when this happens?  I remember that I need JESUS for my endurance. 

Of course, I can’t accomplish all that He has prepared for me to do in my ‘self’.  I am His vessel and only when I allow Him to work in me and through me will His purposes  be accomplished.   It doesn’t matter if I don’t have all the right credentials.  If the Lord has called me to do something, He will lead me and equip me.  And best of all, it will be obvious that it’s Him and …not me.

Then He gets all the glory.

So let’s not grow weary but press on toward the goal of completing our walk of faith.  And may we encourage one another.

Blessings and love,

Heart Choices

14 thoughts on “Running the Race”

  2. LESLIE BOTTS

    One day when I was little down with my life and my walk with Lord, I drove past a sign in front of a local church. The sign read, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” That was the message I needed to continue to run the race. God uses and knows exactly what each of us need to continue to run. My credentials may not be as great as someone else, but I know He has called me and will equip me! Praise the Lord, what an awesome Savior we get to serve.

  3. Joyce

    Ahh, yes, it is all about endurance. It is not about how we start or even how many times we slip and fall along the way, it is that we are ever pursuing God.
    Good work and great reminder!
    Bless you!!!! We have to figure out a way to get together again.

  4. Janette@Janette's Sage

    These were the scriptures God was giving me and the race to the finish line early this morning… 1 am when I was praying. I cried out that I want to cross the finish line to the words, “my good and faithful servant” I want my children to finish the race with the same words spoken to them. I got up this morning at 6 and read from John Piper devotional…guess where I was in his book…yes the devotional was on running the race to the end…even when you might be in bed from old age. Heb. 12:1, I Corn.9:27, II Tim 4:7
    Then I came here….three confirmations!
    Now should I even question being able to hear God’s voice? It seems He is speaking loudly to me today.
    Thanks for sharing…I was blessed and encouraged,
    Janette

  5. rcubes

    After posting “Prayer For The City”, got done cleaning and everything, I found myself sitting on the bed crying in tears, thinking about this race we’re all in. I pray for His strength and power to be over all of us, His children, starting with me and that may we be able to complete this race, pleasing no one but Him along this difficult journey. Thank you for reminding us to keep looking ahead, fixed on Jesus. So that we are not distracted with what He willed for us. Thank you sister Debbie for the prayers and sweet encouragement you always give me. God bless you more.

  7. Sonja

    Debbie…

    Here you are, still running the race, and because I’ve been gone for awhile, it’s especially good to come back and see that He is still giving you good words!!

    I feel like you do… if He could use David, Rahab and others… why not us too?? That has always encouraged me.

    Love you sister…

    Sonja

  8. LisaShaw

    Praise the Lord Debbie for a powerful word of encouragement and HOPE. Hope is the word I had to type in the anti spam box. Fits to your message…

    Keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus right along with you.

    I love you friend.

  9. Beth

    Great reminder Debbie — to have our focus on Jesus.

    Interesting post to me since I’m starting to jog. Yay! Truly, it is the Lord giving me the ability!

    Love & hugs,
    Beth

  10. JoanJoan

    The path before us is often so difficult to understand. Though, when we walk by faith rather than by sight, we can be sure that the Lord will guide us to accomplish His goals. You are so right – endurance is the key! To win the race we must not give up…we must keep going. Hope in Him is the fuel that powers our journey. Thanks for the awesome post!

    Living for Him, Joan

    Living for Him, Joan

  11. Iris

    Amen to that, Debbie. I do grow weary and some days I wish He would just take me home. As you suggest, let us encourage each other to run race that is set before us and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.