Keep Going - Don't Stop!

Hebrews 12:1-2 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, 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.

In the Greek Olympic Games of old, a unique race was run. The winner was not the runner who finished first — it was the runner who finished with his torch still lit!

There are times in our lives when we feel like we just can’t continue in the race. These are precisely the times when the enemy loves to assault us to the point of breaking and torment us saying “You’ll never make it to the finish line, you may as well just quit now”.

Ever felt that way? Of course you have. I have, too. The enemy selects the things that mean the most to us to scatter doubt and places obstacles to trip over to reinforce the whispered ineptness he hopes will fill your heart. He has helpers, too. We grow weary; so we feed the doubt and it grows. Distractions take our focus. I am living this out as I type this post.

You know I’ve been working on a book for quite a while now. My body does not cooperate and the chronic pain messes with my head. I sometimes feel I am wasting my time. It’s very hard to focus with joints screaming at me. So I do what I can do, walk away feeling like I’ll never finish and then look around my house to see all the things sliding there because I’ve nothing else to give. A double whammy of guilty failure! You can bet the old enemy is doing the happy dance over this and all he had to do was plant a seed of failure and doubt. My book is to help people see Jesus work in the lives of people through tragedy and trial…think the enemy wants that book series finished?

This is the time we need to cling on to God’s promises! The Lord will soon reward our diligence for all our toiling here in this world. Paul said, “Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint”.

Let’s allow God’s wonderful promises to strengthen and comfort us in each circumstance so that we can run the race — not to finish first, but to run together, side by side — the flame of our torch reaching the finish line blazing brightly with fire for Him!