"Finish The Race"

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

In the Bible our Christian walk is compared to many things. Paul compared it to a race. We get in this race through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Sadly, many who come to Christ think that once they have prayed "the sinner's prayer" that is all it is to it. That is so wrong. If it is a "race", then it has to be ran. Runners don't sit on the sidelines. They don't preoccupy themselves with other things. They run, and they run well with the finish line and prize in mind.

Getting in the race is important, but finishing it is just as important. Only those who finish will win the prize, and you can't finish it if you sit down and do nothing. Just because you start the race doesn't mean that you will automatically finish it. There is something that you have to do if you are going to reach the finish line.

1) You are going to have to stay in the race- you can't give up just because it gets tough and you become tired and weary.
2) You are going to have to keep your eyes on the finish line. If you are looking at the things around you it will distract you. Distractions will cause you to go in another direction.
3) Remember the prize. You aren't running in vain, there is a prize that awaits you. And this prize is not just given to the one who crosses the finish line first. It is given to all those who finish this race.
4) Don't get discouraged. You may feel like you aren't making any progress and should be further along in the race, you may feel like you will never reach the end, you may begin to wonder if it is worth it. You will get there if you persevere and it will be worth it.
5) Take notice of how you are running the race. You can't run it all over the course and think that you will wind up on the finish line. You must run it well. You must stay focused. You must keep up the pace. You can't keep stopping and starting. You can't decide to run for a while and quit, run for a while and quit. Stay consistent.

Do you need to check your "pace"? Do you need to take a look at the way you are running? Are you still running the race or have you let distractions come in and take you off course? Have you quit altogether? You have to start the race to get in it, but finishing it is the goal.

Have a great day. Start the race, run well, finish the race then receive the prize.

For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Hebrews 12:1-3
Galatians 6:9

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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