When we enter into any race, we prepare, we focus, we rid ourselves of the things of this world that are not conducive to crossing that finish line. The biggest race we will ever run as Christians is surrendering all that we hold onto in our hearts, getting rid of them, to be able to accomplish the course that God has set before us. How can we testify to the gospel of the grace of God if we have not laid it down, if we cling to what we shouldn't, if we don't surrender to Him.
Have you ever run a three-legged race? It's hard. If you or your partner cannot keep up....one is basically drug along or carried by the other......and that can be good, in the Christian walk......we can carry our brothers and sisters in their weakness until they are strong enough to run with us. But, there are always those who will continue to be carried, to drag along, because they are comfortable in where they're at in the race. At some point in a race like that you will find that you begin lagging behind with them, the comfort bleeds over or we adapt to their race....this tends to be human nature unfortunately. Our minds start out believing that we are doing right, that we can help impart God's love and strength so that they run the race. But, in reality it is our/their choice.....how the race is run. Maybe it wasn't you who was supposed to be running with them, maybe God had someone else in mind for that.
What hinders us from running the race.....not surrendering. Grieving the Holy Spirit is one.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 4:32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 5:16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, 5:21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
All these things that hinder tell our minds that we are more valuable than others and God........surrender. In the end, if we cling to them, we lose the race, we drag down the people running with us and our misery deepens. satan has a heyday with it, he wants us to lose the race, he wants our lives in misery and those around us joining in the misery party. Why? Because then our focus is not on God. There are many times in life that satan truly doesn't have to work on this, we do it for him. I want to win the race, I will not be drug down by satan, nor will I help him drag me down. The time God gives us on this earth in preparation for His Kingdom is too short to live like that.
How are you running the race? If the finish line seems further and further away and you've not passed any milestones of improvement........surrender. Take off the chains that bind, lighten your load, lay those hinderances at the foot of the cross and don't pick them up again. Surrender!
20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
\o/ may those who have not yet surrendered... be given the desire to be willing to be willing to surrender... if need be. Bless You Lord for working our will whatsoever way You will it.... and for giving us the opportunity to surrender.... and for the gift of the will to surrender our all... to receive anew... as the new creation in Christ we are called/created to BE. Bless You for raising us in the way we are to go... whereby we become willing to be willing.... Thank You for sending Jesus... as the author and finisher of our faith... and for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit...
HSW: amen and amen.......we are so blessed to have Him to turn everything over to, He and He alone is the one who can heal us, prepare us for our race, deliver us from our sins. We can run, we can blame, we can do all things that satan wants...but the truth is we hold our ownselves back, no one else does, by not surrendering.....and all that we don't eats away at us like an acid......I prefer to live with peace. Thanks so much for your comment and God bless you!
panda: Ya know, this blog, all I pray is that people read it and study it and God's Word and surrender......that's what He gave me this morn. I started this blog in a whole other direction but the Holy Spirit directed me to this. Thanks, love you!
Praise the Lord of heaven and earth and praise Him who carried the burdens of the whole world when He went to be hung on that tree and shed His blood.
Thank you Father for sending your son Jesus and thank you Jesus for sending Your Holy Spirit to help those who are seriously seeking You to win the race set before us. I pray that those of us who have already received the infilling of your Holy Spirit be grateful enough to seek out and help those who cannot help themselves. I pray that we are ever mindful of the ones who are nearest hell and the grave. Thank you heavenly Father, for the compassion you have placed in those who are filled with Your Spirit, and thank you for the prayers that you have already answered and those that are on their way.
Great blog my friend. You have inspired me to reach even higher.
ihs: Thanks for stopping by and I thank you for the comment. I wish I could take credit for inspiring, but the credit goes to God and His Holy Spirit.....He gave me the words and allowed me to write them. God bless you!
Hi Cinder's. How do I run my race? One step at a time and one day at a time. And I know exactly what you mean when you said something about starting a blog off in one way, then without warning - but with a prompting, it turns in another direction. Its happened with me! Its as if God says, you need to concentrate on this.
Bro Todd: ohhhhhhhh a big amen to that.......I always considered myself a self-sufficient girl........how wrong, how wrong!!!!!! Surrender is hard......but such sweet relief!!!!!!!
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