"Crossing The Finish Line"

Reflections4Life™ July 1, 2018

“Crossing the Finish Line”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Scripture Contemplations: Ecclesiastes 9:11; Jeremiah 12:5; Nahum 2; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Hebrews 12:1

©Ruthe McDonald.

W

E are running a faith marathon. From the moment we enter this earth, the stopwatch begins. Throughout our life’s journey, we are running countless races within this one great marathon. Some races we win, some we lose, but at every race, the goal is to cross the finish line. The victory is not coming in first; it is in accomplishing the goal you have set for yourself; finishing the race, crossing the finish line.

I decree that this week’s Reflections is a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Spend some quality time in the presence of the Lord this week. Allow Him to fill your spirit and prepare you for this marathon of faith and every race you will run. There is something great that God wants to bless you with this week but it will require you setting some things aside and having an open heart and mind to the move and hand of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

In our life’s journey and the countless races will run, tiredness and fatigue will come. Sometimes we will not have the energy to run at full speed but we will have to jog or walk, and that is okay as long as we do not give up and stop moving toward the goal of the finish line.

Every race, there are valuable life lessons to be learned. Some races we will win and some we will lose but in all races, we will learn something; gain knowledge and wisdom that we will take with us in the next race and that will equip us for this marathon of faith that we are in.

Do not grow weary of doing what is right and working towards your goals. Keep in mind the finish line, all that you have to gain, where you want to go. We can be distracted with the trials of life and the hurdles placed before us. It is a guarantee that the enemy will do everything he can to trip us, make us give up, and to turn away from what God has placed in our heart. That is the enemy’s plan and purpose—to make us give up when we are so close to reaching the goals we have set before us and receiving the promises that God has ordained for our lives. But his ultimate goal is to knock you out the marathon of faith. The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy who we are and all that God has ordained for us; his ultimate goal is to separate us from God for all eternity.

Though things may seem to be taking longer than you believe they should and almost every obstacle presents itself during your race, do not grow weary—to the point of exhaustion, where you want to give up and turn away from the path of righteousness. Let God be your strength and do not give up. Encourage yourself in the word of God. Surround yourself with likeminded individuals who will encourage you and inspire you, and even run alongside you in this marathon of faith.

It is Not about Speed or Strength

Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Many considered strong in faith have fell the hardest and the farthest. We can look at Samson to see his downfall. Many who are known to have speed and agility have been known to lose to someone who was once considered not as fast, such as the analogy of the tortoise and the hare.

The marathon we are in Beloveds is not about speed or strength. It is about endurance. Nor can it be won through might or our own power, but by the Spirit of God that works through us, giving us what we need to win not only the marathon, but also every race we find ourselves in along the journey of life.

We find in life that we will be up against many things that will try us as individuals, test our faith, and push many of our buttons. It is not always about how strong we are or how fast we can finish this race. It is about the lessons learned along the journey, and in each race, we run. Always something, we can take from every race that will help strengthen us for the next race we are in and that will aid us in the marathon along the way. We just have to let God lead us. Allow Him to be our Coach and to teach us and point out where we need growth, change, strength, and where we have done well.

We will only find this in our communication and relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we learn the pace of God, we gain wisdom and understanding, and we win more races, only to gain strength in our marathon. There is a lot to gain and see in the marathon of faith; a lot that God desires for us to have before getting to the finish line. Because the ultimate goal is not just crossing the finish line but also not crossing the finish line alone.

We Are Not in it Alone

Hebrews 12:1 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…

We are not alone in this marathon of faith, neither in every race. We have a cloud of witnesses on each side cheering us on; angels watching over us, and God poring His love and strength into us. They are there, whispering words of encouragement. Reminding us of the promises of God when we feel like giving up and wondering what this is all for. They are there to offer a cool drink of water. They are there to remind us of the call on our lives, the blessings that wait for us, the strength that resides in us, and there to cheer us on; giving us praise for not giving up but standing strong.

Of course, the enemy has his team on the sidelines trying to discourage us and make the load on our shoulders heavy and our minds filled with doubts and false images appearing real. They are there to trip us up, throwing hurdles and roadblocks, emptying our cups, so we have no water. Trying to deplete us of the nutrients we need to keep going. As well as having naysayers and negative people saying what we can’t do, reminding us of pasts and any and all mistakes we ever made.

However, God has raised up a remnant to run alongside of us. The more we continue to go forward, pushing pass pain and insecurities, all doubts and fears—we gain companions along the way. They see us, though we may not say anything—they are watching, some becoming encouraged in their own race. Before we know it, we are crossing the finish line one after the other and have gained many lives that are crossing the marathon finish line with us. For the true goal was never to cross it alone.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Run every race with valor and determination. Do not pay attention to the naysayers on the sidelines. Though you may lose some races, you will gain wisdom and strength and you will win in the most important race of all: the marathon of faith, bringing countless others as you cross the finish line into eternity with our Lord and Savior. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.