Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!
Now on to my topic...
Today I had another much-needed workout at the YMCA. After cycle class, a few of us hit the treadmills for a short run. I especially love the treadmill that faces the window. I love to look outside, focus on the sky while listening to music that inspires me, and I like to settle in to a steady pace for the duration of my workout.
With a new year before us (not to mention a new decade) we have a life to live, some God-appointed tasks to fulfill, some relationships to build, and some growing to do. How tempting it is to run haphazardly through each day, this way, then that way, never really hitting our stride and moving into the best of what God has for us!
I remember a time when I first started running. It wasn't pretty. After running a couple of miles, I stumbled onto my block with my mouth hanging open, my pony tail in disarray, my steps scattered to the right and the left, and from the distance, looking like I had just escaped from a prison in the desert. One of my neighbors poked her head out the door and asked, "You okay?" I looked up and smiled and said, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
Later, I learned a better more efficient way to run, one that wastes less energy. For starters, I learned to run in a straight line (as opposed to sloppy, side to side steps when I was tired). I learned to look ahead and focus. I learned not to run too fast at the outset. And I learned to pace myself.
Let's take some of these lessons for running our spiritual race this year. If we're intentional about it, we'll get farther, accomplish more, feel better, and waste less energy on superficial things. After all, the Bible calls us to 'run the race to win!'
Eliminate the energy drainers ~ What in your life is draining the life right out of you? Are you filling a slot out of obligation and not because God asked you to? Have you committed to something so that others won't be disappointed or so they'll have a favorable opinion of you? Or maybe you've developed a wasteful habit and you know it's taking up too much of your time. Ask the Lord for wisdom and take the steps to straighten out the path ahead of you. Put your energy into the highest and best things God has for you!
Keep your focus ~ As you go through each day, where do the majority of your thoughts land? Are you thinking about your never-ending task list? Are you consumed with your fears, doubts and worries? Maybe your eyes are on your selfish ambitions and not on your God-sized call; this will surely take you off track. To hit your true stride, you have to focus on your Coach, and listen to His cues. He will say to you, "This is the way, walk in it." As we block out the distractions that threaten to pull us off track, we will more instinctively run the race marked out before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your ears attentive to Him.
Keep your pace ~ Some have a tendency to move too slow; to need a thousand confirmations before committing to something; they tend to drag their feet when it comes to blazing new trails. Others move too fast. They jump ahead without a clear plan; they get ahead of God's plan; they burn themselves out on the first leg of the race. We want to last long and finish strong. As we eliminate the energy drainers and as we keep our eyes on Jesus, our true priorities will come into view. God may be calling you to new places, and new races. Don't be afraid to step out! God may be calling you to hunker down and hang in there with your current race. Dig deep and keep moving. He will tell you when it's time to speed up, and when it's time to pull back and save yourself for the hill ahead. Run at the pace HE tells you to!
Your pace will look different than everyone else's because life has its seasons. But that won't bother you too much, nor will you notice it much if you keep your eyes fixed straight ahead - on Jesus. Listen to His cues and put your heart into the race He has set before you. That's how you run to win. You run for Him.
Be intentional this year about where you put your time, thoughts, energy, and talents. The world needs your influence and God has appointed a special race just for you.
Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God (Hebrews 12:1-2 MSG).
Until next week~