The Race of 2012

It's here!!  A fresh new year...a new start...a new day, week, month.  With all the possibilities of hope, joy, faith and promise waiting to be revealed.  I hope you are  able to face these coming twelve months with a sense of hope and promise, no matter what the last 365 days held.  Psalm 46 talks about a lot of shaking, but GOD being in our midst and our help, our fortress, our strength.  He can and will make us glad and He will be exalted.  He is with us!  That is a promise to wrap around us as we run into 2012 :)


The Word God has revealed to me for this fresh year is Hebrews 12:1-3:

"Therefore, since WE are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY 

ENTANGLES.  And let us RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE the race MARKED

OUT FOR US (me :), fixing our eyes on JESUS, the pioneer

and perfecter of faith.  For the JOY set before him he endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne

of God.  CONSIDER HIM who endured such opposition from sinners

so that YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART."

We are NOT ALONE !!

Throw off ANYTHING that hinders (might not be "sin"...just something holding you back).

Get rid of sin that so EASILY entangles.  (figure out what is making you "trip" or slow down in your race).

We have a race "marked out for each one of us"  - no one else can run my race!

My eyes so FIXED on JESUS.....at the finish line!!

For the JOY.....there is JOY awaiting us (and in the midst of the race....but I have a feeling the JOY at the end is indescribable :)

Consider HIM.....do not grow weary and lose heart!

I have to include this passage from the Message version...it is toooo good to miss....

"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!"

What does YOUR race look like?  

What "tools" do you need to have in your life to successfully run your race? (deeper into the WORD, surround yourselves with strong believers for support, perhaps a small group, moms prayer groups, be mentored......this is one "tool belt" you can wear around your waste and it won't be cumbersome in running :) Choose prayerfully so you will be running a marathon with endurance and not losing steam halfway through :)

What shoes or lighter clothing do you need to wear to persevere? (Col. 3:12, 1 Peter 5:5) ?

I am pondering my race this year....what do I need to take on, or peel off, to run my race successfully?  How about you?  Worth some thoughtful prayer before the One who enables us...as we run the race He lays out for each of us.

My prayer is you will have ears to hear, an open heart to His Voice, and the perseverance to run YOUR RACE.  Put on those spiritual Nike's and let's line up on that starting line.....

Ready....set....GO!