Running the Race

"So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
                                                               1 Corinthians 9:26-27


Running and the whole exercise bit has been heavily on my mind the past week. Pushing the miles and losing some calories is definitely time consuming; but my goal is to honor God by taking an extra step to being healthy, while keeping a positive attitude if I don't have the world record in running or cycling. In any event, it's a way to get out of the house and spend some time thinking. Setting a goal and sticking to it is the hardest at this point, as taking a long break after the winter months makes a routine very difficult to get into. But after seven days of it, I'm happy to have exercised over 11.28 miles.

However, there is another aspect in "running". And this is the running of our Spiritual races. As Paul wrote in Hebrews 12:2: "We do this [race] by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion Who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." When our focus is on God, we can see His working in our lives. Just as in a foot race, we look to the finish line. It's there, and though it's so far away, we have taken the necessary steps to get ourselves conditioned. Before the race, we have to strengthen our muscles. In our Spiritual lives, we condition our hearts, by spending time in God's Word and fellowshipping with other believers. And when we run a physical race, we put on the proper shoes to protect our feet and wear our team color so that others know which side we're running for. Just as with God, we put on His armor to protect ourselves and wear His "team color", so people know that we are running this race for Him.

How do we prepare ourselves for the race that we run for God? What safeguards can we set? As the opening verses to this blog stated: "So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." What Paul is saying here, is that we need to run with a purpose. What this "purpose" is, I believe, is to run for Christ and Him alone. Our purpose should be to glorify Him with what we do, what we say, what we think, how we act.

Now, let's take a look at the two verses before, in 1 Corinthians 24-25: "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize". For all four of these verses, I'd like to include a commentary from an NLT Bible regarding the purpose and discipline that goes into training. "Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation. As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don't merely observe from the grandstand; don't just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently--your spiritual progress depends upon it." I think this commentary is very beneficial, because we don't just read a verse a year and plan on knowing Christ better. We don't just show up at church on Christmas and Easter Sundays. To grow in the Lord, we need to continually search the Scriptures and be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, in order to build each other up.

I surely don't mean to preach at you about this, as sometimes, I can feel lazy and miss personal "quiet time" with God. Something like spiritual growth--as well as conditioning our bodies physically--takes a lot of "self-discipline". But we must keep walking in the faith and depending on the Lord for the strength we need to carry on. One verse that goes along with this post, would be Hebrews 12:1-2. But while I leave you to look  it up, I will bring up another point that is just a few verses down. This is actually something that a friend of mine reminded me of last night. Though hard times may inflict us and we question God "Why me? Why put me here?", God may just be preparing us for something further up the road. By my learning to submit to His will now, I will be better equipped to submit to Him in the trials that I will face later in life. But in Hebrews 12:6, it says: "For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child". Though we may sometimes lose sight of the "goal" and our purpose for living seems so small and unimportant, God will bring us back and put us on "track". God knows that chastising His children is important in their walk; and if He did not discipline them, it would not be real love.

Also, I'd like to include a song for you that really summarizes up these thoughts: Runner   

In closing, I want to encourage you that "..when the road is long, Feel like giving up but you're hanging on. Oh runner, when the race is won, You will run into His arms". 

It's so worth it, my friend. No matter what test you have coming up, no matter what your fears or past failures have been, stay strong. You have been created for a purpose. Don't let the world discourage you and make you stop running. There is still a long ways to run, but God has given you every necessary tool to win the race.

Sister in Christ,
Anna