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Running the Race is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

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mharrell08:
Ps 119:32  I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Isa 40:30-31  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

1 Cor 9:24  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

Heb 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...


The race we all run, dying to the flesh and having Christ live in us, is a marathon not a sprint. It will have its peaks and valleys. One day you feel spiritually on top of the world, the next you'll be humbled because of a particular sin that continues to rear it's ugly head. These are just a few reminders:

1. Acts 14:22  We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.

Life is hard, especially so for a believer. And the hardest part is probably the many family/friends/loved ones/strangers who do not have the same hope in them that strengthens you.

2. Matt 4:1  Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil

If the Father used Satan to strengthen His Son, surely He will use him to strengthen your faith as well. Evil will beset you from time to time: finances, health, family issues, personal issues, etc. Just remember that God will not place any more burden on you than you can bear [1 Cor 10:13]

3. Phil 4:11  I [Paul] have learned in whatever state I am, to be content

Whether in perilous times or joyous occasions, be content. Know what you have waiting for you at the end of this race ['there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.' - 2 Tim 4:8]. It is greater than any setback you may have or any happiness you may feel in this life.

4. Heb 12:5-6 My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

It's all because He loves you. If He didn't, He'd let you waste away with no hope of something better. Everything He does is from Love, because He IS Love [1 John 4:8]

5. 1 Tim 1:15  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief

Paul may have considered himself chief of sinners, but none of us are too far behind in rank. We all have much knowledge and understanding, but still have our flaws & shortcomings. These sins are there to humble us as well as to teach us to trust in God as He is the only Way we can overcome them.

6. Luke 12:22  He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life..."

This is when absolute trust must be placed in the knowledge that God is sovereign. God knows what you need in your life more than you could imagine. There is no obstacle that He has not forseen, and really, He PLACED the obstacle there so you could look to Him in order to overcome it.

7. John 16:33  Be of good cheer, I [Jesus] have overcome the world

My all-time favorite verse. If Jesus has overcome the world, and He is living His life in you, then YOU TOO will overcome the world. Jesus is the author AND finisher of the faith and hope that lies in us. He will finish the good work began in you, so be of good cheer!  :)


No matter the disputes that arise between us all, we're all in this together. We're all running this race and we're all going to receive this prize at the end. Just remember, it's a marathon not a sprint, with bumps along the way.


Marques

onelovedread:
Marques, this is excellent. You have really blessed me, brother.
Of course, someone is going to try to add to this but there's truly no need.
Thanks for that.

Stacey:
Very encouraging Marques, thank you brother.

DougE6:

Posts like these remind me of the deep things that I love seeing in others. and want to see in myself. This is what Christianity is all about. Thanks.

Akira329:
Hope at every turn, thanks bro.
Antaiwan

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