How To Start The Race God Has Called You To Run

I have a
love-hate relationship with running. I love how I feel after a good run. I love
how heathy it is for me. But I hate the soreness, the fatigue, and the pushing
myself to the limit. However, I run when I can anyways because I know the
benefits of running outweigh its challenges.

In the same way our living
for Jesus is a lot like running. It’s the best thing for us but it certainly has
its challenges and obstacles to overcome in order for us to experience its
benefits.

I think this is why throughout the Bible we
find our relationship with Jesus compared to a race. We’re called to do a lot of
things our flesh doesn’t initially want to do but we choose Christ over the
desires of our flesh because we know ultimately Jesus is better for our souls.
So we sacrifice and carry our crosses to experience the full life Christ
promised. Except of course when we don’t. Sometimes we find ourselves just
wanting to quit. I’ve learned it’s during these times we’ve probably grown tired
or lost perspective. So today I’m providing 7 ways to embrace the race God has
called you to run.

1. Understand This is God’s Race 
“However,
I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and
complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the
good news of God’s grace.” – Acts 20:24 NIV

This race will benefit you
but it’s not all about you. God has called you to be His ambassador for the
building of His kingdom. If we lose sight of this and start running for our own
goals we’ll be quickly disappointed. But if we realize we’re running for
something greater than ourselves we’ll find the motivation to run farther than
we could on our own.

2. Maintain an Eternal
Perspective 
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running
aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to
my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself
will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NIV

The
strict training you may endure in this race is not for a temporary prize. It’s
for an eternal prize. When we realize we are running for something that will
last forever it fuels us to know that though this run is difficult, it’s also
more than worth it.

3. Focus on Christ 
“Fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured
the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV

Focusing on Christ is
key to embracing this race. When we consider Christ we realize He’s not asking
us to do something He didn’t do Himself. Christ’s race was much more difficult
than ours yet He ran it for us. Allow His act of sacrificial love to fuel you
for your own race because if we lose focus we’ll start heading in the wrong
direction.

4. Take off the Weights 
“Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us,” – Hebrews 12:1 NIV

This race we are running
is certainly not a sprint. It’s one we’ll be running for the rest of our lives
so we need to pace ourselves. We also need to make sure there is nothing
weighting us down and slowing us from reaching our prize. What weights is down?
Sin. Sin is the very thing that distances us from fixing our eyes on Jesus and
staying focused on Him. Sin is only going to make this race harder than it
already is. So always be praying for the strength to overcome sin so you can run
this race with endurance.

5. Keep Your Lane Clear 
“You were
running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” –
Galatians 5:7 NIV

Your eyes are focused on Christ and the weights are off
but also make sure you’re not running next to others that will cut you off. “Bad
company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV) If you want to
better embrace your race be sure not to run close to those who may get you off
course . Instead, find a friend with the same focus as you who keeps you
motivated to reach the prize. Then make sure you’re being that type of friend to
someone else.

6. Don’t give up too soon 
“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 NIV

Although we’ll be running
this race for the remainder of our lives we’ll also experience small victories
along the way. We’ll be tempted to give up but I encourage you not to. We’re not
running until we feel like quitting. We’re running to get the prize. So keep
going in until you do.