He started it

Do we believe that? He started it. He did. My whole life began with Him. My whole life took on new meaning when I decided to receive all He has for me.

It has taken me years to figure out how to follow Him. And I am still learning how to follow well. But I’m picking up momentum. I’m in a stride now, one that gains ground quicker than ever before.

At one time…

When I would fall it took so long to get back up and get back into my stride. But in recent years I’ve learned to jump up quickly and get right back in. And honestly the falling comes less than it once did. I see the trip hazards ahead of me, I see the things that bog me down, and have learned to avoid them.

How did I do that?

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:1-2

I did it by listening to this scripture. By deciding to actually apply it to my life. It says that we should:

1) lay aside every weight – the Amplified Bible says unnecessary weight – so that would be anything we are carrying that we don’t have to. Things we’ve given importance to that we shouldn’t have. And now it’s weighing us down.

2) lay aside the sin that so easily ensnares us – all sin, even the sins we know we struggle with but don’t address. They are easy for us to fall into.

3) run, with endurance, our race – be committed to it, be steadfast, and run OUR race…not someone else’s

4) keep our eyes fixed on Jesus – look to Him, intently, constantly. Do not look to anyone or anything else. Just Jesus.

The laying aside should be pretty easy. Just do it. Running our race is a little more complicated. It requires developing our endurance. And that requires reading your Bible and getting close to God. It takes time and patience. And before you start running, be sure you fix your eyes on Him. Know where the finish line is, or you’ll end up somewhere you don’t want to be.

He started it, and if we look to Him…if we allow Him to lead us…He will show us how to end well.

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