God has a race for us to run!
It starts when we submit our lives to him and ends when He takes us home. This last week I've been thinking about what kind of race I've been running and how I am leading my family to help them in their race. Hebrews 12 (verse 1), says that this is a race of perseverance or endurance. We like to see see the smooth road off into the horizon but this life is more of a steeple chase where there are obstacles and trials...and it's a marathon not a sprint. If I try under my own strength I always seem to be performing at much less than my ability. But, when I let God guide and direct me He gives me that little extra that allows me to perform at my peak and bring more Glory to Him in the process.
For me the battle begins when I wake up. What sort of persona do I take up for the day and who am I relying on to make that a reality? With 3 little kids waking us up at all hours, and I mean each and every, throughout the night over the last 5 months, it has been particularly challenging to choose the right starting gate. I hope that I can, each day, dawn his armor of protection and grace to face each obstacle with the same mercy and joy that only he can provide.
I hope that this sparks a calling in your life, as it does mine, to wake each day to ask God to prepare and renew me for that days next section of the race track. To run the race with all the gifts He has given me to the fullest.
A great example of this is Eric Liddell who's epic race was documented in the movie 'Chariots of Fire'. If you haven't seen this movie in a while I suggest a revisit. I did recently and found that I had forgotten how fully they show Eric Liddell's faith and purpose for why he ran. You can just see how God designed him specifically to do what he did so that God would get the Glory. His pleasure as he ran was so evident as he worshiped God with every stride. While others were racing on Sunday, Eric spoke in a church about Isaiah 40. Very powerful how this relates to our race -
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for 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.
During this time of year in the ministry it can be tough to persevere. There is just a ton to prepare for and all the paperwork and planning is not always the most interesting. I find that how I approach this time of year makes such a difference in my attitude but also the results. As we prepare for 5 international church planting trips to 4 different continents this year it has been especially challenging to keep my eyes on the course He has planned for me. As you think of it please pray for these expeditions into the harvest fields where God is preparing vast numbers to come into intimate relationship with Him through the faithful work of his people.
Continuing on in Hebrews 12 (verse 2) I think is a great capstone; as we consider how we race in this steeple chase of a marathon -
Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...
-CT
