Have you ever been running, exercising, or working and after you are just worn out? You feel as though, if you do not get something to drink you are going to just fall over! Think about this concerning your relationship with Christ. Do you ever feel just worn out and empty in your walk with Christ? Do you feel like you need a "water break" to get refreshed and rejuvenated? I know I have felt this way many of times.
I think I may have found a solution to our problem friends! Read Hebrews twelve, verses one and two with me...
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are all in a race; yep, a marathon, really. I am not much of a runner, but I do know that when I set goals to run further than I did the day before it can become tough. Your mind is telling you, "You can't do this," but your body is totally capable of running further. That is what I think happens in our spiritual race. We want so badly to run toward the goal, but then the devil tells us, "You can't do this." We give up. We give into temptation. We lose sight of Jesus; our goal.
Satan uses many devices to slow us down and to keep us from running the race. Some of the schemes he uses are not necessarily "bad," but if they are hindering you from being all that God has called for you to be, kick them out! First, Satan uses the obvious, sin. Sin separates us from God. This is a simple truth. If you have sin in your life, it will weigh you down and slow you down. Repent! Run from sin! He will also use relationships to hold you back from running. Relationships can be a wonderful God-given gift, if it is used for his glory. Relationships become a bad thing when your "guy" or "gal" becomes your idol. God has THE best plan for you. It is so stinkin' easy to give your heart away to a boyfriend or girlfriend. DON'T do it! You are God's until marriage! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus because he is the only one that will satisfy your desires. No guy or girl can ever or will ever love you more than God does. Keep your body pure for the Lord. It is HIS temple. He wants you; all of you.
Business can also be a way of the devil keeping you from running the God given race. If you are caught up in every event, school, work, and even church and you are not spending quality time with God you need to reevaluated your motives. Spending alone time with your Creator is the most important part of your walk with Christ. That alone time will train you to be the runner that you need to be for this race.
How do we not get burned out while running? How do we endure this race? Do not sprint! Keep a good pace. I see too many people who think they have to go to every church event and bible study to be a "good Christian." They will get burned out and overextend themselves. (2 Corinthians 10:13-14) Sometimes, they end up replacing intimate Jesus time with church events. We need to go to church! We need to stay in fellowship, but don't let it hinder your intimate time with God. If you want to be more like Jesus, spend more time with Jesus!
When you are running, you drink water to stay hydrated and refueled. We do the same thing, by drinking Living Water! We must pray and study the scriptures to keep running this race. He is the only water that will quench your thirst.
While we are running, we are not running aimlessly. We are running looking at Jesus! What are your eyes looking at? Are your letting your eyes be filtered through God's Word so that you will obey him? Or are you taking shortcuts in the race? By trying to look "spiritual" on the outside.
You can look like a runner; have all the gear of a runner. You can go join a running club. You can tell everyone how much you have run, but are you really running? God knows if you are really running the race or if you are bending over, breathless, because the sins of the flesh are sucking the life out of you. Let God refuel you. Lay aside the weight of the world and sin. Run the race, looking at Jesus.
Love,
Hannah Hollis
