Hebrews 12:1
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.”
DAILY READING -• Mark 9:2-50; 2 Samuel 22; Hosea 2:2-23
In life, we must focus on the race that is set before us. It can be easy sometimes, to get sidetracked. But focusing on what really matters, is important if we are to finish this race successfully. The following story illustrates, the importance of focus;
In 1845, an expedition led by Sir John Franklin sailed from England, to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean. however, it turned out to become one of the biggest disasters in exploration history. Despite being outfitted with the best provisions and equipment of the time, the entire crew perished. The reason why this happened was because the crew loaded their two sailing ships with a lot of things they didn’t need: a 1,200-volume library, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware for each officer, with his initials engraved on the handles. And then, amazingly, for what was meant to be a 3 year expedition, each ship took only a 12-day supply of coal for their auxiliary steam engines.
The ships became trapped in vast frozen plains of ice. After several months, their leader, Lord Franklin died. The men decided to trek to safety in small groups, but none of them survived.
One story is especially heartbreaking. Two officers pulled a large sled more than 65 miles across the treacherous ice. When rescuers found their bodies, they discovered that the sled was filled with table silver.
Those men contributed to their own demise by carrying what they didn’t need. Instead of focusing on getting to their destination faster, they were weighed down by the extra weights they carried with them.
Hebrews 12:1 says “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.”
In the race of life, we must be careful to focus on what really matters. Competitive long-distance runners lay aside everything and run with only what is absolutely necessary. If you try to run while lugging around extra weight, the race becomes really hard and very difficult.
The journey of destiny requires us to keep our eyes single. Matthew 6:22 says that when your eye is single your whole body shall be full of light.
1 Corinthians 9:24 says ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.’Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly… [but] I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.’
We must discipline ourselves if we are to win in this race of life. The Lord has given each of us a unique track to run. We can’t afford to run aimlessly. You can only become a star by focusing on your own track. Therefore drop everything that tries to distract you or weigh you down and focus only on what matters. Whatever sin, habit, attitude, or fear that has become a burden in this race, you must have to lay it aside. And these burdens and yokes can often be dealt with on the platform of prayer and fasting
Isaiah 58:6 says ‘Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?’
So part of the reason why God asks us to fast is to undo heavy burdens and break yokes.
Also to win in the race of life, we must focus mainly on our call. Not every good idea is a God idea. We must understand that, the enemy’s greatest strategy is distraction, he wants us to lose focus of our main target and be hindered by unnecessary things. Be careful from being encumbered by things that add zero value to you. Be wary of human and social distractions, and anything else that may rob you of your focus. Anybody or anything which is not part of your assignment, can become a dead weight, or an unnecessary burden which can weigh you down. But when you are diligent in doing only the business God has called you to do, you will stand before kings.
In Joel 2, we discover that the glory of the end-time army lies in each one locating his own track and running on it, without breaking ranks or being distracted. Therefore, don’t allow yourself to be weighed down from fulfilling destiny by carrying excess baggage.
One thing is needful for us to seek, and every other thing will fall into place. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then every other thing shall be added unto us.
PRAYER: Lord please help me to focus on what really matters as I run this race of destiny. Please deliver from besetting sins, distractions and weights that hinder. Enable me to run this race successfully and to finish my course with joy in Jesus Name. .
quote
It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]