“Get on your mark.”
Down on all fours. Fingers spread along start line. Feet situated in starting block.
“Get Set.”
Knees off ground. Arms extended. Finger tips still touching the ground. Head down.
“Go!”
Take off running. Counting the steps before jumping hurdle number one. More steps. Hurdle number two. Keep going until the finish line is in sight and give it the last bit of energy inside and leap forward. Race complete. Good job.
Is this the Olympic running of the hurdles or is this a description of our daily lives? It seems like we start our day in a starting block, looking ahead, getting prepared and then we’re off to the races. To-do list in one hand, cell phone in the other. We give it our all, panting and racing the whole day. We jump one hurdle and run to the next, never looking back until the day is done, body tired, heavy breathing, slumped over in exhaustion.
Did we win a prize? Gold, silver or bronze? Where’s my participation trophy? Am I the mom of the year? Did I get the prize for putting in the most hours or having a check mark by everything on my list?
There is no trophy for having the biggest completed to-do list. You don’t get to don a medal for exhaustion for super human. But the book of Hebrews tells us about a race worth completing. He tells us to throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
What is it that God is calling us to do? We are to be good witnesses for Him. We are to get up every day and throw off whatever keeps us from doing His will and run our own race for Him. Hebrews 12 continues to remind us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Run your race today, but not the one that has no meaning or that only includes a to-do list and a cell phone. Rather run the race that includes Jesus asking Him where He wants you to go today and what He wants you to do for Him today and who you can help by showing His love today.
Get On Your Mark.
Head bowed. Kneeling down.
Get Set.
Eyes fixed on Jesus. Feet ready for action.
Go!
Run YOUR race for Him today.
