"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, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12-1-2
We are all running a race. You know. Some win theirs, and some don't.
Luke tells us to run ours like we want to win it! For the prize is heaven!
Everyday I pray that God would bring glory to Himself in all that I do. Everyday. I mean that.
Not in like a "Ya, hon, I'm praying for you..." kinda way.
More like in a "Seriously, Lord... I disgust myself when I act out in pride and selfishness... please purify me!" kind of way. But I am so easily ensnared.
The deeper I get into the Word, and the more I beg the Lord to teach me to be humble- the more clearly He shows me that it is impossible. He shows me that if I were able to become humble, and to have a true servant's heart in EVERYTHING I do- then I wouldn't need Him.
I need to be asking him to guide me, in His spirit, to be humble. If I were listening to the Spirit every minute of the day, then I wouldn't be falling into discontentment and pride.
My race is crazy hectic. Almost all of the time.
It's like those races you see on TV where 12,000 people all crowd together and the gun fires and people end up getting trampled.
And man oh man do I love it. Almost all of the time.
But there are those times when I get so tired.....
I feel like I hit the wall so hard.....
Like the last 50 meters of the 200.
Because that isn't an endurance race-- it's a sprint.
You are all out for the whole thing.
And just as you round the last loooooonnnnnnggggg corner to the finishline,
you feel like your legs turned to wet noodles, and your lungs are actually going to implode, and you start to wonder "Why the heck did I sign up for this again???"
It isn't the race that lasts for hours- but only seconds... but then you have to get ready for the next heat. And much of the time is spent in preparation. All for but 20 some seconds of action.
But after that 20 some seconds, you feel like you could sleep for days....
I feel like that right now.
I am pretty tired.
I want to have time to do things for myself once in awhile.
Maybe hang out with a friend, or go see a movie.
Have all of my girls around so we can go get coffee.
Run off for a day and do nothing.
But isn't our God great?
He never gives me more than I can handle.
He always calms my heart when I think it will just burst.
He reminds me of my prize, and of my blessings.
He reminds me how much I love this place, and the job that I do, and the people
that I serve with. And He reminds me that I asked for it.
This is the desire of my heart- to serve Him day in and day out- and He gave it to me.
So this week I am making it a point to lay aside every weight,
and to reach out and hand off my baton to my Lord.
And with it, the troubles in my heart, the wants in my soul, and the discontentment that I let creep in. I have all that I want, and all that I need, and in time He will provide for me everything that He has for me. Other people around me are running a different race. They have their own rules, their own prize, and their own judge.
Just like coach Jerry used to say: "Always look up, never to the side, never back- and run through the line."
Be blessed friends.
><> Shae
