Running the Race

"With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Message

I just want to encourage some folks, and share some of my experience. You're not alone.

The Lord has been working with me on consistency. It hasn't been the easiest, far from it. I've dropped the ball plenty of times, and still do. The beginning was so tough. I look back at who I was just six months ago to a year, when I began to sort of feel my way back (like in a dark room with no lights, and you're trying to find the exit.) Right now, I'm in that middle phase of the race. The adrenaline (emotional high) is dying down. I can feel the aches and pains now, the "I don't want to's"... "I'm tired's"... "Maybe later's" ... just that overall head down, shoulder slump, take a deep breath, I guess I have to sort of thing. You know.

It's during this time, that digging and remaining in the Word of God is more important than ever. Cause you can believe that fear, doubt and temptation are going to creep up and in, doing their hardest to hold you back, to keep you from finishing this race, and experiencing the things of God. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be Sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." When Lions hunt, who do they prey on? The strongest? The fastest? Or, rather the sick, slow, (here's a big one) and the YOUNG - those the Lions can easily separate from the pack (Word of God), people he can foool into believing they are alone. You can't do it alone.  If you could have, Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross. You just have to stick with it, and keep pushing on.

In James 1:12 it says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

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

This just gives me so much confidence and hope in my walk.

I can say, I've experienced some of this blessing already, and its been good. In all of 6 months, I am more stable now (that I've founded myself in his Word), than I have ever been. The Lord has blessed me a great job with great people to work with. MY BOSSES HAVE BEEN A HUGE BLESSING to say the least. I'm living stable and comfortably. Anybody that knows me, knows that has never been since I've been on my own. The things I asked God for, the desires of my heart, stuff that when I decided to do this and said, "Hey Lord, its in your Word. I'm going to hold up my end, don't let me down, this is what I want."  MOST (and I mean MOST) of those things have come to pass. I am so thankful, so thankful. More so recently, than in the beginning. I had to sow seed first to reap it.

Well, this is what I've been going through, and experiencing. You're not alone. Keep pushing. Keep working in the Word of God, and the Word of God will work for you, and those around you.

(CHECK THIS OUT: There is scripture (Romans 5:3-5 and Hebrews 10:36) where it talks about gaining endurance through trials, and why you'll need it. I'm beginning to read about Moses coming to Egypt, and delivering God's people to the Promised Land. As people who visibly experienced the miracles of God, they too, experienced rough times like doubt, fear and temptation, which turned into a 11-14 day trip into 40 YEARS. For us we can learn from them, and not make the same mistakes keeping from experiencing what the Lord had to offer them in the Promised Land. Definitely something to read and relate to right! Check it out.)