How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith
As any athlete would tell you, it is important to set your pace. You must know your own levels of endurance. Endurance is built over time with precision. The years of illness, followed by years of working long hours had taken its toll on my body. Last year, I realized that I had laid aside any exercise—well, actually it had been hit and miss with occasional weeks of good followed by more weeks of none. I realized that if I am to live life with both joy and endurance; something had to change. I began easy at first-treadmill at noon every day at work. At first, I began at 3 miles per hour pace for twenty minutes at an incline of 10%. It was a struggle at first; but, every day I would determine to go. At first I would think, ok I can finish 5 minutes. Then at 5 minutes I would think, I can do 5 more. I would do that until I reached my 20 minutes. Now I look forward to my noon work out. I am up to 4 miles/hour, 13% incline and 30 minutes. Each day is the same thought process-5 minutes, then 5 more, then 5 more etc. until I have finished the 30 minutes. I remembered when I was young and would run 10K races—one block at a time.
[bctt tweet=”Our Christian Journey is much like a marathon requiring endurance looking toward the finish line- “] 10 m at a time.
THE RACE OF LIFE BY FAITH
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12).
This race is one that will require endurance. We must be always training and preparing to continue onward. We are admonished to remember 4 things to allow us to run this race.
CLOUD OF WITNESSES
We must remember that there is an entire world looking on. My race is either glorifying my Father or it is not Glorifying Him. Every word I speak, every step I take, everything I write reflects upon my Heavenly Father. Runners often wear a number and a t-shirt with the name of their sponsor on their back. For me, as a Christian, it is as though I am wearing that T-shirt with the name of my Father across it. Every time I stumble and fall down into the mud, I am taking His name into that same mud puddle. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege to wear my Father’s name; but, I must be ever conscious of this truth. I may be the only opportunity to know Christ that some people will ever see.
LAY ASIDE THE WEIGHT
I need to get rid of those things which hold me back and weigh me down. Fear, guilt, shame, and doubt are emotions that weigh us down. We must be quick to lay them at the cross. We need to say as Paul, “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (Philippians 3:13-14).
LAY ASIDE THE SIN WHICH SO EASILY BESETS US
We all have those areas that are our greatest temptation. Whether that be pride, anger, unfaithfulness or worldly idols. We need to be aware of these and battle against them through prayer, confession, and God’s word.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS-THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
Any faith that I might have, began in Christ Jesus. Without His atoning work on the cross and His resurrection, there is no hope of faith. I must not forget, that perfect righteousness- God incarnate came and died on the cross for my sins. God loved me so much He Gave His Only Begotten Son for me. Isaiah 53 tells us of how horrendous an act that was. God placed all my iniquity upon Christ. When I fix my eyes on Christ, I keep going forward in this race.
[bctt tweet=”Our steadiness in this race of life depends on our focus upon Christ.”] To keep that focus we must devote time to prayer and reading God’s words of instruction. The Holy Spirit will guide us along our way, comfort us when we are weary, and provide us with the nourishment we need to actually joyfully finish this race of faith. God began the work in me and God will finish the work in me.
I would love to hear how you are doing in this race. I have reloaded disqus and hopefully it is working better. click here
Watch this video for encouragement. I Will Run
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. In fact, if you email him today with the words GIVE, he will give you a 50% discount. Our secret, shhh. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.