Run the Race

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

William Arthur Ward wrote: “Believe while others are doubting.  Plan while others are playing. Decide while others are delaying.  Prepare while others are daydreaming.  Begin while others are procrastinating.  Work while others are wishing.  Save while others are wasting.  Listen while others are talking.  Smile while others are frowning.  Persist while others are quitting.”

Great works to consider and apply!  Winning and losing are terms we readily gravity toward in life.  The advice above reveals the differences between to the two polar opposites.  To win in life requires three things:
1) You must start. That may seem obvious, but many of us are stuck in the starting blocks waiting for something to get us going.  For some, they are waiting for someone else to do something.  We want to consider what has God called and equipped us to do?
Then we need to step up to the call and step out in faith…
or as the ad says… Just do it, knowing He will empower you!
2) You must give it your all.  Divers in the Olympics don’t save all their effort for their final dive. They concentrate on nailing every single one, increasing their chances for a gold medal.  Don’t settle for mediocrity at any stage of life (Philippians 3:14).
3) You must never quit.  In the 1992 Olympics, Derek Redmond of Britain was competing in the 400 meter race when he suffered a torn hamstring and fell.  As the other runners breezed past him, he began to struggle to his feet.  His father, whose face was covered with tears, suddenly ran down from the stands to help him up.  Slowly, agonizingly, they made their way around the rest of the track and crossed the finish line as the stadium in Barcelona burst into thunderous applause.  Redmond didn’t win a medal, but he won something more important—the respect of the world.  The Bible says, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to never give up and to run the race in a way that You will say “Well done good and faithful servant”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen