Faith

“Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”     Hebrews 12:1-3, the Message Bible

My daughter is a high school cross country runner and she loves it. She loves to get up and run at 7 am in the summer and she loves the long runs and she even likes running the heat. She makes sure she has an adequate and healthy lunch to go with her to school every day so that she has enough fuel for her workout that afternoon. She eats differently on race day and makes sure she gets enough sleep the night before. After a workout, she ices anything that hurts – particularly her knees.

Paul tells us to “strip down, start running – and never quit!” Good runners eat well, rest well and listen to their coach. What does this mean for us in this Christian Race?

Here, Paul points us directly to the source: “Keep your eyes on Jesus” and “Study how he did it.” Many times in the Gospels, Jesus is recorded as slipping away to solitude and prayer. He talked with his Coach. And at the last supper, he asked us to commune with him; to remember him. These are all things we are called to do!

Today, there seems to be a renewal of the “spiritual disciplines.” There are many things that we can do as a spiritual discipline, and the classics are grounded in solitude and prayer. A simple way to start is to create what I call “sacred space” in your life. It can be those first quiet moments of the day when everything is fresh. Perhaps it’s a walk outside in the middle of the day to reconnect with your Creator. It could be intentional devotion and prayer time. Whatever your sacred space looks like – I invite you to claim it and protect it. Slip away and meet God in the garden. Close your eyes and breathe. Be quiet with Him; listen to whatever he places on your heart. And remember that God is running this race with you today.