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I remember the day I ran my very first race – it was a 5K (3+miles). And it was an agonizing run with big hills, temperatures in the 30′s and high winds.
I knew I would not be the first to cross the finish line (especially when I saw all the young college students arriving and I was this middle aged homeschooling mama!) but – I ran my hardest! I gave it my all. I ran at my max level for 28 minutes and pushed myself as if I was running to win.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 says “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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Paul says “Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
On race day, I didn’t gingerly jog along aimlessly. I had a goal – to keep my eyes fixed on the tall blond with long legs in front of me – which was quite a challenge since I’m short and squatty! lol! (The blond is Kimmy, a close friend and a part of my GMG group for years)
My only goal was to keep her in eye sight – and as I ran, I ran with my eyes fixed on her.
She ran the first mile at a pace that I could barely keep up with. I found my side hurting and a desire to stop and walk – but I didn’t – I pressed on and I stuck with my goal – to not let her get out of eye sight.
As the second mile began, we were also about to climb a hill – I knew I couldn’t run that hill. We had practiced on the hill previously and at the pace I ran that first mile – I didn’t really have it in me.
So – I walked…
but then I realized she was not walking – she was running – and slowly slipping farther away from me.
I saw my goal slipping away – and I picked up my feet… and ran – I ran harder and faster than my mind and body wanted to – but my goal kept me going!
In the end, we crossed the finish line only seconds apart from each other. I had reached my goal!
I learned a spiritual lesson that day about how powerful “fixing your eyes” on a goal really is.
Paul says, in life “do not run aimlessly!”“Run in such a way as to get the prize.”“I make my body my slave so I will not be disqualified from the eternal prize!”
How are we living our life for God – are we running aimlessly – or are we focused on pleasing God.
Are we making our body our slave – so that our sinful desires do not disqualify us from heavenly rewards? Or are we a slave to our bodies and all it’s fleshly desires for pleasure and fun.
The Christian life can be intense with stress, exhaustion, and pain. But we must not give up! We must discipline our body to press on – exert all the energy and strength we have to please God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 are some of my favorite verses (and were Tuesday’s SOAP verses).
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Do not grow weary, do not lose heart. Fix your eyes on the unseen.
God will pull you through those hard times.
RUN TO WIN
“God is an anchor in the midst of the difficult chaos of this world.”
~ Jennie Allen
Walk with the King!
