Happy New Year!! 2010 was a whirlwind for us with a new grand baby and our move back to Indiana! We have finally settled in our home and we are waiting to see what the Lord has for us! Please continue to pray for our family.
Today, I want to talk to you about running a race in 2011. Are you interested in running it with me?? Take a look at Philippians 3:13-14
" Brethern I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. "
Have you ever ran a race? I sure wish I could say I have and maybe this will be the year I do it. After doing some research on running a race, I found that there are several key factors in getting prepared.
•First you must check with your doctor ! This one is a "no-brainer!!"
In order to run a "spiritual race" you must first come to the one and only true Physician, Jesus Christ! He is the one who can take a sin-sick heart and make it completely whole!! He is the one who can cleanse us from all of our unrightousness and give us the "clean bill of health so that we can begin preparations for running this race! I love the words of Jesus himself in Matthew 9:11-13 where He says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Jesus is the Way, The Truth and The Life!! This is the first step to begin preparing for the race of your life
•You must have the right shoes!! This is definitely comes in second ! Your shoes and your clothing are extremely important!
In order to run this spiritual race, we must begin with putting on the full armour of God each day. Just as we need shoes and clothing to run an earthly race, we must have "spiritual clothing" and our feet "fitted" with the gospel of peace to be successful in running the race!
Ephesians 6:10-17 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
•You must have a healthy diet!! Now that's one thing none of us like to do but it is necessary in order to run this race successfully.
Our spiritual training should always begin with a healthy spiritual diet! Everyone knows that fruit is so good and healthy too! God's Word gives us a list of "healthy fruit" that we need in our daily lives in order to run our race successfully.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
•Not only should we be physically prepared to run a race, we must also be mentally prepared.
"A race or a marathon is an extreme test both of physical and mental preparation. A runner can be in good shape and still run poorly if he doesn't have the mental toughness to compete in the race. Your mental attitude is something that needs to be trained from the very beginning, along with your body."
Our minds should be on Him continually!! Start each morning with reading your Bible and talking to God. Begin memorizing the Word and watch what it will do for you! This is one of the many ways I have found to be so rewarding, and it has helped me stayed focused on the goal!! "Word in. . . Word out!" When Satan comes to try and knock you out of the race, you will be prepared!
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
•You must train in different weather conditions! Rain, sleet, snow, heat and cold, etc!!!
No one knows about stormy weather more than the Christian and believe me I have had my fair share!!! Lately, I have kept the rain gear on and the umbrella close at hand!! God never said it would always be easy and smooth sailing! As a matter of fact, He said "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
We will have warm sunny days and we will have dark and rainy days. The journey will be tough, but keep running!! Don't look back on yesterday. Don't live with regrets. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” We must look forward to the prize of the high calling! We must run this race knowing our life depends on it and others who are watching us run this race! We must lay aside anything that will slow us down or stop us! We must press on. Fix your eyes on Jesus!
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
As Christians, we are running a spiritual race everyday when our feet hit the floor! We are running to obtain a prize that could never compare to the accolades and medals the world has to give! Our prize is incorruptible, an imperishable crown!! Heaven!! Jesus for eternity!! Ever-lasting life!!
I Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
•Lastly, we need to be committed! Commitment is everything! Without commitment, nothing will ever get done! We have to be sold out completely!
You will get knocked down; you will get some bruises from time to time and even get some scratches; You will grow tired and weary too but stay committed!!!
Isaiah 40:30-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (PRAISE GOD!!)
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
II Timothy 1:12 "for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Psalms 37:4-5 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Follow these steps and I can promise that you will finish the race! Commit your life to Jesus Christ and He will give you the desires of your heart!!!
As I close this letter to you today, my prayer is that you will join me in the race of a lifetime! Let's be there for one another and lift each other up and encourage each other to "Press Foreward; Press Toward, and Press Homeward!!! What awaits us at the finish line will be worth every mile! Get running!!!
"Encouraged in heart. . . United in Love"
Jenny
II Timothy 1:12
No comments:
Post a Comment