Don’t Get Left in the Dust – Pace Yourself!

Great start, Nathan! Run faithfully!

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

You have probably seen him – the one who shoots off the starting line with incredible speed and bounds to the front of the pack. What a thrill it must be for this runner to know that he has left everyone in the dust!

But you have probably also seen this same runner struggling with fatigue as he slowly loses steam. Others creep up from behind and start to pass. Little by little he falls back and sometimes even finishes last, all because he didn’t plan the race well. He didn’t run with endurance in mind, but only for the moment of glory when he faced the wind at the front of the group.

I love how our high school’s track coach advises the team members to time each lap. If a runner wants to finish in a certain time, then each lap must be completed within a set time frame. If one runs too quickly he will use too much energy too soon. If he runs too slowly he won’t expend enough energy to reduce his time. In order to run with endurance you need to pace yourself.

Life is about endurance, too. The way to survive is to consider the way you run. First, it is important to lay aside every weight that can hold you back. Discard the wrong and selfish reasons for what you do. Run with the Lord and others in mind.

Next, eradicate any sinful thought pattern or action that will hinder your progress. As you get caught up in the world’s way of thinking, it will shift your focus from the ultimate goal of Christlikeness. It will draw you into sin, burden you with guilt, and turn you in the wrong direction.

Finally, pace yourself and run with endurance the race that God has given to you. Don’t get sidetracked by what God has called others to. Read God’s Word and pray for wisdom in order to know God’s plan for your race. Do what God has asked of you and rely on His strength to help you reach the finish line successfully.

There are plenty of men and women who have run this life-race before us. They are the witnesses to the fact that running the race is not only possible, but it is necessary. They are the heavenly spectators cheering us on to victory. Don’t start in a blaze of glory and then get left in the dust. Pace yourself. Run with endurance the race that God has set before you and I’ll meet you at the finish line!

Love,

Mama