Run With Patience!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 284

June 28, 2016

 

Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
¹ 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,

 

As my eyes were scanning my bookshelf this morning I saw a title of a book I read a long time ago.  It is by Max Lucado and is called “The Applause of Heaven”.

Since it has been so long since I read it I don’t really remember what it says but it started me thinking about the writer of Hebrews words on this race of life we are in.

In chapter 11 of Hebrews the writer gives a list of people who ran a good race and left an impact on the world that is continuing on today as we read their stories of victories and struggles and even failures.  But they kept running the race.

Then in chapter 12 verse 1, we are encouraged to run the race well.  Lay aside every weight and sin and run with patience.  We are told there are those who have gone before us cheering us on.

This paints a picture in my mind of a group of runners headed toward the finish line of a road race.  On the side lines are those who are cheering and yelling you can do it. This paints a picture in my mind of Olympic skiers or swimmers with the stands full and the people yelling encouragement to them.

This paints a picture in my mind of the prophets and patriarchs of old that are looking at our daily struggles and cheering us on to victory.

But more than anything this paints a picture in my mind of the Lord Jesus Christ who says deep in our innermost being, you can do it, I paid the price and won the victory. Let me live through you, let go of the struggles and just rest in me and you will always be victorious.

Now picture with me if you will a runner starting out at a good pace and feeling freedom as he or she runs.  Then picture as this runner continues they begin to pick up things along the way.  They pick up some worry, then go a little further and pick up some offense.  After a little while more they pick up some unforgiveness.  Before long they are so weighted down they are walking not running.

Then imagine at the side is a strong amazing Jesus and as you slowly walk he begins to say “Come to me”.

 

As you stop and bow at His feet and worship the weights begin to fall off at His touch.  The hurts, confusions, worry and concerns begin to lift as He takes them. The unforgiveness is released as He sets you free.

Our weighted down life does not come all at once but comes a little at a time.

Have you ever heard the expression “Slow Fade”?  The enemy of all that is good knows that the best way to defeat us in our walk with the Lord God Almighty is to slowly add the temptations and cares and worries to our life.  Life 101 will begin to weigh you down if you don’t understand that you have a Heavenly Father that will take all of that and set you free to run with patience the race set before you.

But not only do we have stands of heavenly encouragers and the Lord Jesus himself our encourager we have the spirit of the living God that will guide and direct us as we give Him control.

I implore you today to release every care, hurt, confusion, worry, unforgiveness, etc, to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Let it go……let the Pease of God fill you up and you will run the race of life without all the junk weighing you down.

Don’t slow fade into the mindset of the world around you.  Be an encourager.  As you allow the Father God to set you free, you can encourage others so that they can run the race of life with the creator of life as their guide.

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Father God, thank you that we have examples of Godly people who have left an imprint on the world around us.  I decree and declare in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that every person who reads this will be filled with the desire to run a good race.  I decree and declare that each person who reads this will let you take all the weights and cares from them so they can run the race with freedom and patience. Fill us with you spirit and guide us to make an eternal difference.  Amen

Let Go of all the weights and run the race with patience!

Love, Me-Maw