Heart //
Imagine you are at a track meet getting ready to race when some teammates come up to give you final words of encouragement. They tell you to take off your running shoes and give you a pair of brand new snow boots to put on. They offer you a high-quality coat and designer jeans. Every product they’re giving you is great, but completely unnecessary for the race that you are getting ready to run.
Some of the things in our life are not necessarily bad, they are just not appropriate for the race that God has called us to run.
As a loving Father, He looks at us as we prepare for our race and sees that we often prepare by clothing ourselves in non-essentials that make us feel good, look good, and even cover up what we think are our imperfections.
We look to those around us, wanting what they’ve got rather than using the gifts God gives when asking us to run the race. He desires for us to be free of distractions so we can run our best race.
As we let go of all the things that we have held onto or clothed ourselves with, we may feel exposed, and even a little inadequate.
It’s like we’ve been running in a winter coat, and now we’re running in a lightweight shirt.
It feels right, but different than what we’ve become used to.
We feel exposed because we were finding our identity and definition by what we are holding onto instead of who Christ made us to be. When we are challenged by our culture or circumstances, it’s easy to just cover back up, hide, or revert to what we’ve always been comfortable with. Instead, be encouraged to consider Jesus and take heart.
Jesus let go and asks us to do the same, to learn that it’s alright to feel exposed and vulnerable before the Lord. Although it may be painful and different, our Father desires what is best for us. He desires for us to run the race without hindrances.
Work //
First read the following:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
What things are hindering your race? When and how do you think those things got added to your life?
What could life look like if we made decisions fearlessly and selflessly?
Spend a few minutes thinking about what that would look like in your life!
When we hear the voice of our Father and obey, maybe even going against the grain of our culture, we run with newfound freedom.
As we move into learning about identity in next week’s message, may you be inspired and filled with the courage to trust God, even if it means changing parts of your story to align with His plan for your life.
