Ready, set...GO! The race of life has begun and there is a goal to run towards. There is a prize to go after and my name is on that prize when this life is over. I became a redeemed child of the KING and I am expected to run this race with dignity, honor and righteousness. I simply can't get distracted and give up. This isn't a race of speed, it's not the one who finishes first that is determined the winner, but the ones who finish! It's a race of diligence, perseverance, and the goal of attaining Christlikeness for the remainder of their life. It will never be over until this life is over. Does that mean we will never grow weary? No, everyone from time to time 'feels' defeated, but it's knowing how to gain control again. It's to keep running and never give up. This is the race I'm running right now. I can't give up, I won't give up, no matter what kind of lies I run into. Christ tells us that we are to give Him our heavy yokes of burden and He will carry us with His peace and joy and understanding, we are not alone. This is all I need to know in order to give me the added strength to continue this journey called life.

My husband and I are facing some really difficult times. They just don't seem fair. In fact it is enough to drive someone insane. But, it takes the courage to be able to look beyond what we have come to know as our "comfort zone". It's being able to recognize that this world is not our home and it's not about what appeals to our flesh. Being a Christian of God's truth is seeing beyond what this world is telling us. Even though our circumstances don't seem favorable, we KNOW God is working it out in His time and more importantly, in His timing. And vengeance is His. This is where we must remain still, and just get quiet and trust. This is the part where alot of people fall away. We take our eyes off the goal and do things our own way.

What is that goal you might ask. It's being totally submitted to serving the Lord, to be used by Him. It's being blessed to be a blessing to others. The chief end of man is to serve God and minister to Him. So many have that backwards. God is not here to make us comfortable and give us what we think we want or deserve. When we truly understand this, we also know we have no right to make these demands on a holy God. He has been so patient and understanding of us already. This deserves our utmost obedience and reverence.

In order to run this race, it takes a total transformation of the mind through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing that anyone can do on their own. It's true what they say, the mind is the battlefield. If we allow the lies to take hold, our vision will be obstructed by wrong thinking and wrong actions. This is exactly why Paul the apostle advised believers to not only think upward at all times, but meditate on these things as well.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

All this is virtuous. All that is true is found in God. So when Satan weaves his web of lies through man's reports, we can't waste our time and energy by worrying about it. When we belong to Christ, He promises to be with us in times of trouble and will deliver us from evil. Paul goes on to say this;

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9

Just as Paul was an example to the Philippians, we are also examples to the world. When we receive Christ as the Lord over our life, we have the assurance that the God of peace is with us. He gives His children 'perfect' peace in troubled times. Paul also knew that in order to attain this peace that he would have to do his part as well. Don't miss this. He tells the Philippians that they would have to keep working out their own salvation with fear and trembling because God is the One at work in us. Both to His will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) This is an attitude in which Christians are to persue for their sanctification. This is what sets us apart from those who are in the world. It's revering the Lord in a healthy way. And further more, it is doing it without complaining or arguing. Ouch! Don't we just love to cry when we are uncomfortable?

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." Philippians 2:14,15,16

Did you get that? Keeping our mouths shut is virtuous. We will be blameless and passed over when God brings judgment on this perverted world. We must stay determined in keeping God's truth and continue running towards the goal. If not , pretentious, outward religious acts of service will be in vain. It is running to be like Christ, not acquiring the approval of man. We know the world hated Christ and it will not like us very much either. But when I realize this Biblical truth, I thank God that I must be doing something right. The unjust treatment we are getting is actually going to position my husband and I for blessing. I can't wait to give Him all the honor, glory and praise when He finally puts us where He wants us to be. This excites both of us more than the lies hurt us. We believe that what Paul said further in his instructions to the Philippians to be sound, godly advice. It's still to be followed today.

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Paul gives us the image of being a runner in a race. This is compared to a Christian's spiritual growth. If we stop running, we will cease to grow in Christ. We will never stop growing while we are in this world, so it's imperative that we press on with diligence. Stopping to remember past hurts will deter us by keeping us victims to the lies of Satan. Don't stop running! It's very good exercise!

In the next few months my husband and I will be stepping into some unchartered territory. Our lives are about to be changed for God's glory. We don't know how all this is going to happen, we just know that it is. And we continue to give Him praise no matter what it looks like. We recognize the lies. I pray that if you are facing difficult times, you will allow the Lord to lead you out of your wilderness journey. After all, He IS the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT! Praise Him in the good times as well as the bad.

God will give us the victory as long as we are willing to run the race!

All Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible-"the MacArthur Study Bible"