RUNNING THE RACE – Part 1
Sep 07 in Running the Race
‘Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ Hebrews 12:1
The Christian Journey is compared to a farmer working the ground and planting his seed, to a soldier being trained for battle, to a builder setting down the right foundations before constructing and to an ATHLETE being trained and running this race called LIFE. In this article I want to focus on the latter; what it takes to be an athlete and run the race well. Words like disciplined training, self-control, endurance, consistency, courage and passion immediately spring to mind followed by the question: Do I have what it takes? The answer: a resounding NO. But God in me does! So, let’s take a look at what this process requires of us.
‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.’
Self-control in ALL things! That already feels painful.
Over the last two years I have felt I was in a time of transition – covered in a previous blog – which required me to ‘change the contents of my bag’ as I found myself in the process of changing from one state or condition to another. What I later found out is that there is a stage (final phase) in labour called ‘transition’ which is the most painful as your body shifts and your cervix opens to enable you to push a new life into the world. PAIN is very much a part of transitioning as travail is to giving birth. There are things you can’t take into this new phase of life and new ones you will need to adopt in their stead. You are being rebooted; you can no longer operate on the old system and need a new operating system to be able to function effectively. Likewise, an athlete training for the Olympics will have a completely new regime of training and life disciplines that will now become part of their ‘new normal’. A new daily routine, which will affect every area of their life – if they are to stand any chance of winning – there are no shortcuts, no easy-fix solutions.
The athlete will need to monitor their diet, habits, choices, priorities and will be required to adhere to a change of life-style and a new training schedule as they adopt new disciplines. You can’t have change without struggle. A concert pianist will have endured hours, days and years of constant training, but the result gives a freedom that cannot be learnt any other way; ‘the struggle today will result in music tomorrow’.
The Butterfly needs the struggle of coming out of the cocoon in order to fully ‘become’ the fight crucial to build the strength necessary to be fully transformed (God developing His character in me and growing the faith muscles I will need in the future). The struggle an important part of the growth experience.
‘Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim…’
Before setting off on any important journey, it is important to have some idea of destination. Having a goal, something to work towards gives a focus, a sense of purpose and significance. A vision energises, inspires and enables us to carry on through the ups and downs that we are sure to encounter. A vision helps us to invest fully in the process and not give up.
‘A goldfish will only grow to be as big as his environment’. ‘A shark in a fish tank will grow 8 inches but in the Ocean it will grow 8ft or more’. If our vision is too small, we will only grow as large as it allows. God’s vision for our lives always outweighs our own. We need to ask Him for His vision for our future and not allow our limitations to confine our ability to seek for and receive God’s much greater, multidimensional and eternal perspective (Isaiah 55:8-9).
As with any goal, sometimes it is necessary to stop and reflect, consider: Why am I doing this? Who does it affect/benefit? What/Who’s imprint am I leaving behind? We need a road map, some sort of strategic plan; smaller stepping stones in order to reach the bigger goal. With this comes the need to constantly analyse motives and commitment, evaluate performance and behaviour. It means ensuring that the things that take up our time are not diversions that get in the way from doing the things necessary to reach our goal; ‘not doing the good at the expense of the best’. Goals evolve with time, we need to have our minds set yet open to change and adjustments along the way. Always ensuring our vision aligns with God’s; allowing Him to be the pilot and in charge of our final destination, not inviting Him along to be a passenger whilst following our own flight plan.
‘Forgetting what lies behind, we reach forward to what lies ahead’.
It’s like swinging on a trapeze – you have to let go to grab onto the next bar or trust the person who is catching you mid-air. We like to stay in our comfort zones, what feels familiar. To trust God requires me to let go of the old. The opposition will do everything in their power to hinder our progression. It takes trust as we anchor our hope in God and take a leap of faith into this new season. If the Israelites had not left Egypt they would have never made it into the Promised Land. I also need to recognise that sometimes I can be my biggest obstacle.
We can’t run a race in the wrong clothes and shoes. A race requires us to run light. What are we carrying into the race? Any heaviness from the past: fears, failures, guilt, shame, hurts need to be addressed and left behind (2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 43:18).
… To be Continued ….