Run Your Race
We are currently watching thousands of athletes from around the world, representing their county, participate in a variety of sports competitions in the Tokyo Olympics. We are witnessing the remarkable skill, ability and strength that these athletes have for their sport. One particular sport is that of running races.
We too are called to run in a race. It’s a spiritual race called, ‘the life of faith’. We are inspired by God to enter this race by believing that He exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. The qualifying factor to enter this race is believing in Jesus and receiving Him as our Saviour and Lord. This is how the race begins by focusing on Jesus, the champion who initiates our faith. God has also given a huge crowd of witnesses to inspire us in this journey. The have given us the example of what it means to live the life of faith and run this race. Just read their names and stories in Hebrews 11.
Like any race, there will be obstacles we must overcome. There will be hurdles of setbacks that will try to discourage us. There will be hindrances of sin that will try to trip us up. There will be the hurts of offences that will come at the hands of others that will require us to forgive people. Jesus’ life sets the example for us. We are to consider the hostility that Jesus endured from sinful people, so that we will not become weary in our race and give up as we face these hurdles, hindrances, and hurts.
So let’s be ready to run this race of faith. God has a customized race marked out for each one of us. We don’t get to choose the course in life either as God has customized a race for us. We can only run this race and not someone else’s. So we must learn to ‘stay in our own lane’ and not compare ourselves to others and their race. Jesus is our focus and will help us champion our own race. So let’s run to win and faithfully finish the course He has set out for each one of us. There is no greater joy nor sense of satisfaction in life like running your race!
Scriptures
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT)
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Luke 17:1 (NLT)
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
Prayer Points
Thank God that you are alive to partake in this month’s fasting program.
1 John 1:9 - Confess any known and unknown sins.
Thank God for making it into the second half of the year.
Ask God to let His favour, goodness and mercy run after you and your household for the second half of the year.
Heb 12:1 – Father, I thank You that I am called to the life of faith in Jesus’ name.
Heb 12:1 - Father, break any stronghold of sin in and around my life. (mention them).
Heb 12:1 – Jesus, remove every weight of distraction, fear, laziness, worldliness from my life. (pray this seriously)
Jehovah, remove any evil plantings in my life and my household in Jesus’ name.
Heb 12:1 – Father, release a spirit of endurance and tenacity upon me as I run the race of life. (pray this seriously)
Heb 12:2 - Jehovah Ebenezer, the God of my help; help me to focus on Jesus at all times in the race of life.
Heb 12:3 - Father, break and scatter any spirit or power that has been assigned to work against me to give up in my race of life. (pray this seriously)
1 Cor 9:25 – Lord, give me insight about the attitude of an athlete.
1 Cor 9:26 – Jesus, help me to run this race of life with purpose every day.
Luke 17:1 – Holy Spirit, overwhelm me with Your presence so that I will not yield to any temptation of any form. (pray this seriously)
Matt 6:12 – God of mercy help me to show mercy to others in Jesus’ name.
2 Tim 4:7 – Father, Like Paul, let me end well in Jesus’ name.
Jehovah, break the stronghold of COVID-19 in any form over communities, towns, cities and nations in Jesus’ name.
Pray for the persecuted church globally.
Declaration
(Say it aloud and repeat it three times.)
Father, I thank You that You have called me to the life of faith. Jesus, break any stronghold of sin in and around my life. In Your name which is above any other name, scatter any opposing spirit assigned to my life. Every weight of sickness, fear, financial lack, worldliness, confusion and laziness will be stripped away by the power of God at work in me. Jesus, remove any evil plantings in my life. Therefore, I will not yield to any temptation in Jesus’ name. As an athlete of Jehovah, I run with purpose. I run the race of life to win and I will end well because the one who lives in me is greater and powerful than the devil.
Upper Room Prayer Gathering at 8:00 pm Friday evening.
Conference Call
Dial: 647-977-2648 (Canada) / 202-602-1295 (USA)
Code: 827-220-552#