Running Our Race

The Apostle Paul rightly likened our faith walk to a race. From its’ beginning the salvation seed was planted, others watered, and in the fullness of time God gave the increase. Once the eyes of our understanding were opened, to God be the glory who snatched us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, it was only then that we could see our lives like we’ve never seen it before. Jesus was undoubtedly real and sin, which once looked appetizing, now looked disgusting. The joy we once took in sin soon gave us shame at remembering it. With a new vision, new zeal, new foundation in and new thirst for Christ, we propelled our way through this sprint encountering hurdles, potholes, puddles, and the many other vicissitudes of life all while running our race with one goal in mind, to be well pleasing to Him (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Our temperance in this race was and is cultivated even further by the plagues of doubt, fear, dissolution we face, but these cannot overpower us. They cannot be victorious over us, for we are more than conquerors and that is why we must continue to be temperate as we challenge doubt, fear, dissolution, head-to-head with confidence, assurance, a resolute mind by reminding ourselves that He who has begun a good work in us shall complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).  We hammer back with the assurance that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We stand firm on this-if any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old is past, behold all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We run this faith race equipped for the challenges and when we run weak, because invariably we will, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). For we know in Whom we have believed, and we are persuaded that He is able to keep what we have committed to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12)!
 
PRAYER: Lord, this faith race has been one specifically created for me. Thank You for helping me to run it with temperance, endurance, strength. Oh, let not the works that I worked in this race be burned up before You. Lord, let me obtain my imperishable crown that I may place it before the feet of our Righteous Judge, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It is in Your name I pray, Amen!
By Sis. Paula Smith