Saturday Scripture..Hebrews 12:1: Running the Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)

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What race for the Lord are you running today?  What weights are trying to slow you down or prevent you from getting to the finish line?  Is your stride even and your spiritual breath filling your body with life giving oxygen? Or, are you tripping over your feet, gasping for air, bumping into others and stumbling on the path?

These are questions I'm asking myself today. I'm going through a major transition in my life (more on that in future posts...it's nothing bad...it's actually good.....but still a transition...) and as I did my Julia Cameron prescribed "morning pages" writing, the image of a race began to form in my mind. I was then reminded of this scripture from Hebrews and grabbed my computer to look up the exact passage. I was astounded by how the various translations of this scripture passage fit with the transition I'm going through right now. Amazing and wonderful, isn't it, how the Lord leads us to what we need at the right times?!

Part of the transition I'm going through involves completing things that need to get done and doing it within a specific amount of time. It also involves closure of a way of life that has been familiar to me for a very long time. But, like all things, this way of life has been changing and the "fit" doesn't seem so right for me any more. There has been a lot of "weight" involved and, frankly, the weights are getting too heavy for me to continue carrying them. Thus....the transition.....change is the one thing in life we can count on, yes? But no, not the only thing....no....we can ALWAYS count on God! 

So as I wrote my morning pages, I began to realize that perhaps as I am running this race of transition, I am losing my focus. In tying up all of the loose ends and getting things accomplished I am losing sight of the finish line. I am losing sight of what my true goal in this race needs to be. I am allowing others in the race to slow me down, distracting me with meaningless exercises that don't strengthen my spiritual muscles that I need to get through the last obstacles in this race. I'm listening to coaching techniques that lead me on the wrong path rather than listening to THE COACH who has run this race before me and is able to guide me with every pounding step that I place before Him on this running path of life. 

And so, with the grace of God and help of this scripture, I'm regaining my stride today. I've got my eyes on the finish line and the Lord is there...waiting for me....cheering me on....even as He is also running right beside me whispering encouragement in my ear...

"You can do this....there is a great cloud of witnesses who have run this race before you....I have run this race before you..... and I am running it with you now. And, I'll be there with you at the finish line." 

God is also running this race with you!Thanks be to God.

Until Next Time,

Debbie

As always, hope you will feel free to leave a comment....I love to hear from you. If you would like to see the other translations of Hebrews 12:1 check out this link at Bible Hub.

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