SCRIPTURE: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)
OBSERVATION: Run in such a way that you may win. Or don’t run at all!
APPLICATION: Ever been in a footrace before that started out with passion and vision only to get slammed halfway through? Yeah, me neither!.. haha. Usually I hit the wall at mile 18 in a marathon. It’s real. It hurts. So true is life.
In a race, you have to focus and “fix your eyes” on your goal. Training is both physical and mental. You must train to push through pain before race day. If you haven’t trained you will fail. The bible speaks about cocky young soldiers not being fit for war. Looks and words only goes far… “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5). If you haven’t trained for war, get off the battlefield or you will die and probably be the cause of casualties around you!
I’m excited to be in a place of freedom again. It’s time to run again. That means it’s time to train again! Training is a perpetual prerequisite for advancing in life. Let me explain.
I’ve spent the past 2 years ‘running’… not running from or merely surviving, no! Rather running my race in such a way to win! In doing so, I hit new levels of exhaustion I’ve never experienced before; Physical, Mental and Spiritual exhaustion. I’ve crossed a series of finish lines (that felt like false finish lines) that have yielded the reward of legacy for me, my kids and our future. But it took all I had within me, and more…
For the past few months I’ve stopped to rest, allowing my heart to catch up with me. Learning to ‘Rest’ is just as important as ‘Running’. If you don’t pace yourself, you will hit the wall and never finish the race. So, I’ve literally not gone running for months. Life had to slow down to a laser focus within the few pockets of time left in my busy schedule. That was a season. Now it’s time to run again!
People say they are ready for seasons of opportunity in their relationships, careers, ministry, etc. Passion only goes so far. In order to make the finish line and ‘win’, it takes another level of commitment. You have to know the purpose of the race before you start. You have to know if it’s a sprint, half marathon, marathon or ultra marathon. If you don’t envision, every step of the way in your mind and heart, you will not finish well… if at all.
I believe this is where most make the mistake of getting into life without thinking through what they are doing. Life will knock you on your ass whether you are ready or not. The hearts that are 100% all in are those who get up over and over again until they cross the finish line. All others fail to finish.
I’ve just finished a grueling season of ‘Running’ then ‘Resting’ and now ready to go again. Only this time, I’m in a place of peace, protection, provision and promise. How’s that for 4 P’?! I’m excited at what’s next in my life. Why? Because I’ve not only crossed my finish lines, but have done so with integrity. Even in my mess, I have followed Jesus to victory, over and over again.
Any endurance athlete knows if you have trained and competed at new levels, you are ready for more! I am a tested soldier. I have scars to prove it. From that season of pain and pushing through, I have a new level of strength and endurance, maturity, equipped for greater distances. I’ve put the hard work in. I’ve earned it. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4)
It’s human instinct to avoid pain. Endurance athletes embrace it, analyze it, navigate through it in order to gain strength, endurance enabling them to kick ass on the trail. This isn’t a competition against anyone else until it’s against yourself first! It’s an ongoing metronome of improving. With a little bit of OCD thrown in the mix of course – haha!
I’m not the best runner on the trail nor in life. But I’m running my race the very best I can. This is excellence. This attitude will cause me to finish the race and receive the crown of victory from Jesus. My goal is to run in such a way that lives would be saved. First with my own heart, then my kids and then all who are in my sphere of influence. I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus!
My favorite runner in the bible is a man by the name of Ahimaaz. I know I know… but he’s a cool guy despite his name. I’ve cried out to Jesus in desperate times years ago for permission to stop running. I had nothing left in me… Now in this most recent season of rest, I’ve been quietly asking permission to run again.
You see, now I’ve experienced God’s promise coming true in my life that He will make it count! It’s a new season! It’s time to run with new levels of strength and endurance earned from faithfulness to follow Jesus, in such a way to bring honor to my King! Come what may, I want to run!
If you know my story… if you know from where I’ve just journeyed… you know. You know that my heart cry to run again is nothing short of a miracle. I want to run! (worth reading to understand more of my heart to run for my King)
PRAYER: Jesus I’m so excited to be on this side of those finish lines. I chose to fix my eyes on You as I did years ago with Dad on the trail. It’s a new season. I will follow You. Make it count! I choose to Fix My Eyes… on You Jesus!