The Race

In this day & time, so many things clamor for our attention, luring us away to what this world has to offer (empty promises of fulfillment & great satisfaction), when it's really just a distraction that takes us from the path God chose for us & abandons us in the middle of nowhere surrounded by brokeness, emptiness & desperation. I want to encourage each & every one of you to "throw off the sin that so easily entangles & run the race set before you with perseverance." (Hebrews 12:1)

A few weeks ago, my friend Debra & I went to exercise at the high school track. After walking (the curves)/jogging (the straights) about 3 miles, we decided to attempt jogging an entire lap. We started off strong & determined, but the farther we ran, the harder it became. My body (believe it or not), wasn't as tired as I thought it would be. The battle was centered more in my mind. I kept telling myself, "You've gone far enough. It's okay to quit. You've accomplished more than you expected. Go ahead & stop. Walk the rest of the way." Then to distract me even more, Debra started 1/2 talking to me through her gasps of air. I didn't have the breath to answer her-it was taking everything I had to remain focused on my goal. My eyes-my mind-my body-everything was fully engaged & locked in on the finish line! As I saw it drawing closer, my footsteps became that much more firm & determined to stay on track & finish strong.

It's the same way in our Christian lives. Our time here on earth is quickly drawing to a close, & Satan knows that! He is called the "Father of Lies" (John 8:44) & will do anything & everything he possibly can to get our eyes off Jesus "on whom our faith depends." (Hebrews 12:2) Whether it's through the lie that you're all alone & no one understands you, that you've messed your life up too much & it's beyond repair, or that God is holding out on you, so to go ahead & settle for less than His best...remember who your TRUE ENEMY is!

"For we are not fighting against people made of flesh & blood, but against the evil rulers & authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, & against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Keep your spiritual eyes & mind on Christ-who alone can save you!

"Don't copy the behavior & customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good & pleasing, & perfect His will really is." Romans 12:2

I pray that we will have a soft heart, open ears, a sensitive spirit, strength to endure, courage to obey whatever it is God's calling us to do, & feet that are prepared to carry us across the finish line!

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24