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What’s Hindering Your Race?

May 1, 2018 By Jennifer H. Yates Leave a Comment

1 May
What's Hindering Your Race

I can tell you straight up what’s hindering me from running: laziness.

I’ve not exercised consistently in over a year. I can make all kinds of excuses–I’m too busy. I’m too tired. I don’t enjoy it. And they’re all true. But they’re still just excuses. I know that I need to exercise my physical body in order to stay healthy and strong. If I don’t take care of this body God has given me, I limit my usefulness to His kingdom.

So, I need to throw out all the excuses and get rid of every hindrance and just get outside and run.

“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.”

Hebrews 12:1, NIV

What’s Hindering Your Race?

But the writer of Hebrews is talking about a different kind of race–a spiritual race. He says that since we have examples who have gone before us–real men and women whose life stories are told in the Bible–their examples should encourage us to stay in the race and not be hindered by excuses or entangled in sin.

I can think of lots of excuses for not serving God: I’m too busy. I’m too tired. I don’t enjoy it. I hate church. Too many hypocrites. They don’t do it my way. I don’t know what my gifts are. I don’t have what it takes. They don’t need me. Somebody else will do it. That’s not my calling. They hurt me.

Wrong Mindsets

The problem with this way of thinking is that it’s unspiritual and keeps us unfruitful for the kingdom. We need to renew our minds in the Word of God and not allow thought patterns that keep us on the sideline and out of the race.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12;1-2

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

We also make excuses for our sin. We tell ourselves that we have a right to be offended or that it’s just a white lie or we can’t afford to give. We blame others for our choices or we claim that’s just the way we are and we can’t help it. But Paul tells us that we are no longer slaves to sin. We have a choice to live by the sinful nature or the Spirit.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of death might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin–because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

Romans 6:6-7

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”

Romans 6:12

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

Romans 8:5

If I want to exercise my body regularly, I have to take captive the excuses and instead think about the health benefits of staying active. I need to renew my way of thinking about running or walking and remind myself that I actually enjoy it when I do it.

The same is true for our spiritual lives. We can make all kinds of excuses for not serving, but the truth is that we are happiest when we are serving God and others and when we are dealing with sin and striving to walk in the Spirit.

Eyes on the Prize

The best way to stay in the race is to keep our eyes on the finish line.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him 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 sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Hebrews 12:2-3

If we will keep our eyes on Jesus, we’ll be motivated by His love for us demonstrated in the cross, and we’ll throw off all the excuses and just run.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be on the sidelines. I want to be running my race for the Lord.

I wrote a Bible study called Let’s Run! Running the Race with Faith and Perseverance. It’s a six-week study that will inspire and motivate you to run your race for Jesus. I want to encourage you to pick up a copy and study this passage in Hebrews. Let God’s Word renew your mind and get your focus back on the race set before you.

Gotta go now. I’m putting on my running shoes.

Let's Run! Running the Race with Faith and Perseverance
Let’s Run Bible Study

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Bible study, Christian devotional, Jennifer H Yates, Let's Run! Running the Race with Faith and Perseverance, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, running the race, seeking God, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, the Word, What's Hindering Your Race?, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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Today on the blog, I shared about using the gifts
Today on the blog, I shared about using the gifts God gave us to serve others, no matter how big or small we think they are.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click

We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword


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