Good Morning My Friends! Today we’re going to look at the efforts it takes to embrace the race. If you’re into running, sports, or exercise, you’ll understand immediately what God’s asking us to refrain from and embrace. However, you don’t need to be an exercise fanatic to understand today’s encouragement for intentional living.
“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24, NIV).
Bringing to you what to refrain from and what to embrace for 40 days this Lent season is my personal task.
At the beginning of this journey, I thought 40 days wouldn’t be too hard. Oh my goodness have I been wrong. This task has been incredibly challenging to me. And it’s not just the writing part, it’s actually living the way God is instructing me to live.
I’ve learned there are few things I struggle with that I didn’t know I struggled with before I began this 40-day journey.
I’ve also learned this writing thing is hard so early in the morning. Confession: I want to quit some days.
I imagine you are also tempted to quit this 40-day journey sometimes.
This morning, as I thought about what it’s going to take to finish the race because that’s what God wants us to do, I thought of marathon runners.
What do they do to finish the race when they feel like quitting?
Hitting the Wall
There’s this phenomenon in marathoning called “Hitting the Wall.”
It’s where a sudden wave of fatigue that sets in and they want to quit. They think they can’t go on.
John Davis from RunnersConnect, says, “Contending with the wall is a problem whether you’re an elite runner or recreational jogger.”
I say, contending with the wall in anything that we’re called to do, is a problem.
Like runners have to determine how to overcome hitting the wall, we do too.
Don’t Quit!
I have a daily wall.
I hit my wall every morning when my alarm goes off. It’s not getting easier for me as I hoped it would. Not yet anyway, and I’m half-way through this journey.
So how do I press on and not quit? There are three things I’ve intentionally done:
- Commitment: I determined ahead of time, I’m committed. That’s why I drag myself out of bed very early every morning to complete my daily task of writing.
- Coach: I seek my Coach for strength. I claim these words, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” There’s no way I would be able to run this race without God Himself giving me strength to endure. With “Palms up!” as Bob Goff would say, I turn to God and pray:
“You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth. Turn to me and be gracious to me. Give Your strength to Your servant” (Psalm 86:15-16, HCSB).
- Cheerleaders: I have cheerleaders encouraging me to keep going. “Carry on, Michelle, You can do it!” I have one “key” person who has decided it’s her task to cheer me on. You know you are. Thanks!
Every time you hit the wall is another opportunity for you to learn something about that wall and yourself.
Finish the Race
I want to finish this race. I want to be able to say like Paul:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Finishing the 40 Days of Intentional Living is not an option for me. I may think I can’t do it, but God has equipped me for this task.
I also want you to finish this 40 Days of Intentional Living too because God has more good things to teach us in the remaining days.
Now, there are others races in my life I’m running too. Not sure if you know this, but during these 40 days I’m also doing the Whole30 Program. This is challenging. I’ve done it three others times, so I knew the challenge I committed to again.
Some mornings, I just want to grab a Zone Bar for breakfast. That’d be so easy. I don’t “feel” like cooking eggs and veggies and taking the extra time to chew all that food. It’s time consuming, but it’s so good for me. I’m stronger, more energetic, and overall healthier. I need to finish the Whole30 race too.
Now, I know there are other races in your life you need to finish too.
- Perhaps you are trying to lose weight. Finish the race.
- Perhaps you are in college getting a degree. Finish the race.
- Perhaps you are studying for a big exam that will help your career. Finish the race.
- Perhaps you are applying for jobs for that career calling in your life. Finish the race.
- Perhaps you are preparing to run a 5K, 10K, or marathon this year. Finish the race.
- Perhaps you are undergoing some medical treatment. Finish the race.
When you hit the wall, refrain from quitting. Instead with palms up, shout out to “The Coach,” God Himself, and ask, “Please give Your Strength to me so that I can finish the race!”
Practical Application
Don’t give up. Keep running the race. There are three things you can do to finish the race:
- Make a commitment or recommit to your journey.
- Seek “The Coach”
- Get some cheerleaders
If you need encouragement for your race, seek me out. I love cheering people on. Send me a message or comment below so that I know how I can encourage you through your journey.
Blessing to Finish the Race
[callout]Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. (Hebrews 13:20-21, HCSB)[/callout]
Just for Today
Refrain from Quitting. Embrace the Race!
Leave a Reply