Pastor shared a story about running on Friday. When he was a young man he coached a group of boys for an intramural track event. One boy wanted to run so badly, but he was s-l-o-w. "Slow as Moses" in Pastor's words. However, this boy could run around the track several times and never change his pace. So Pastor had him run laps for the entire practice. Every day while he trained other boys for the 50, 100 or 200 yard races, "slow Moses" would run and run and run. After the first practice he proudly announced he'd run twenty laps. By the time tournament day arrived this boy was running 75 laps at practice. Race time came and Pastor told the boy, "You have to run around this track four times as fast as you can."
The boy was surprised. "Only FOUR times??"
When the race started he shot out full speed ahead. The other coaches were laughing behind their hands because they knew you shouldn't go all out on the first lap. You should pace yourself 'til the last lap and then "kick". Well, slow Moses didn't have a kick. He just ran. By the second time around he had lapped the pack and was yards ahead. By the end of the race he had almost lapped the pack twice!
How was this "slow" runner able to easily beat the other competitors? He was running almost 19 miles every practice. When he was required to run one mile as fast as he could, his heart and lungs and legs were more than equipped for the challenge.
My lessons from this example:
First, run your race and not someone elses. Don't be concerned about someone elses "kick". Keep my ears attentive to what God is telling me to do and my eyes on the finish line.
Second, run!
Some of my favorite scriptures are running scriptures. They inspire me and stir my insides!
Hebrews 12:1-2
"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." (NASB)
"Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished the race we're in." (The Message)
"Let us too, with such a cloud of witnesses about us, throw off every impediment and the entanglement of sin, and run with determination the race for which we are entered, fixing our eyes upon Jesus, our example in faith." (Goodspeed)
Isaiah 40: 26-31
"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable,
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might he increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."
(NASB)
Lets run!!!
DCP
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