Run With Me?

I love running.
I really do. But, it’s winter and I hadn’t stepped into my running shoes and hit the road since those 70 degree weather days. Until yesterday.

My sweetness of a husband and I were visiting his family yesterday and the weather was a brisk and sunny 55°. We decided to get outside and enjoy the weather! We started out the driveway and up a steep hill. And so it began. This wasn’t going to be a lovely little stroll. Who knew that a simple hill would be such a workout? My little lungs were working as hard as they could. My heart was pumping. My legs were screaming at me.

This reminded me of our walk with Christ.

If we are not used to daily walking with Him, our strength will quickly flee when He starts leading us into places that seem to be literal uphill battles

. When our hearts and minds are not daily exercised with the words & power of God, how can we “run with endurance the race that is set before us“? {Hebrews12:1}

Just like my physical body needs daily strengthening in order to conquer running up hills, our relationship with Christ must be daily strengthened in order to stand strong and run the race set before us. Because, girlfriend, the life of a follower of Christ isn’t a walk in the park. Along the road of a bondservant, temptation, trials, persecution, and pain are waiting for us. But there is a prize for the one who finishes strong, oh, there is such a sweet prize. But first…

How do we prepare ourselves to run this race? Paul teaches us in a clear and beautiful way in Hebrews chapter 12. {Make some time today to read the entire chapter-great stuff!}

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1-2

We must get serious about our walk (or run) with Christ. God desires willing hearts. We must lay aside every weight and sin that hinders us from running the race. Most importantly, we look to Jesus. We are not meant to run the race alone or in our own strength. Jesus is our author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is the Source of strength we need in order to cross the finish line where He who endured the cross is now seated…in the presence of God the Father.

Beloved, we must “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” {Philippians 3:14}

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” {1 Corinthians 9:24}

Oh, until we receive that precious prize of Jesus…

run with me?

-fellow runner in Christ, K