Running Your Own Race

So many people today spend valuable time and energy trying to make everyone around them happy. They want to be accepted and affirmed. There’s nothing really wrong with that, as long as you don’t let the opinions of others become your focus or distract you from what God has called you to. The bible says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

If you’ve ever watched a race, when the competitors run you don’t see them looking around at the other runners wondering how they’re doing. No, they have their mind focused on one thing – the finish line. They don’t waste valuable energy comparing themselves or wondering what’s going on around them. Instead, they focus on winning the prize. This is how we should be in life, focused on winning the prize of God’s reward.

My challenge to you today is, run your race. Don’t let people squeeze you into their mold. Remember, you don’t have to play up to people. You don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks. As long as you’re being true to what God has put in your heart, you don’t have to look at those around you for validation. Stay focused on your goals. Run your race and honor God in everything that you do. When you keep your eyes fixed on Him and His plan for your life He has promised to bless you and everything you touch!

A Different Spirit

One time in Scripture, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the Promised Land. The people of Israel were camped right next door and excited about possessing the land. But after 40 days, 10 of the men came back with a negative report. They said, “Moses, there are giants in the land and we’ll never defeat them.” That negative report spread throughout the rest of the camp and the people began to doubt and complain. But one of the spies named Caleb said, “Moses, we are well able to defeat these people. Let us go up at once and take the land!”

They all saw the same land, the same circumstances but they had totally different views. How could their reports be so opposite? Here’s how, Caleb had a different spirit. He saw things with a different perspective. Others were focused on the giants but Caleb was focused on his God. It’s interesting to note that the people who complained never actually made it into the Promised Land… but Caleb did.

The bible says that Caleb was granted permission to take possession of the Promised Land because he had a “different spirit” and followed God completely. Today, you can choose to have a different spirit. Don’t listen to what everyone else says; listen to what God says. Tune out the negative voices around you, even in your own mind, and choose to trust that God will fulfill every promise He’s made to you. Choose to believe His truth, choose to obey Him and He will lead you into YOUR promised land!

Slowly And Suddenly

God said, “I’m going to do great things that I have never done before anywhere on earth. People will see what great things I can do because I’m going to do something awesome for you.” Now when God uses the word “awesome,” He is not talking about a trickle, a stream or a river of power. He is talking about a flood of favor, a flood of ideas, a flood of healing. It may not look like it in the right now but any moment could be THE moment God decides to do for you what He’s “never done before.”

 

I like how Joyce Meyer puts it, God works in two speeds: slowly and suddenly. It’s in the times of “slowly” that God is lining up all of the right people, circumstances and yes, even trials. The trials are there to prepare us, to strengthen us so we can better handle the promotion coming our way. Without the training and testing, it’s just like at your job, you would never be ready to take over a higher position. God wants to take us to higher and higher levels, to reach our full God-given potential.

 

Then just when you think He must have forgotten all about you, once He’s done tying up loose ends and putting all of the finishing details in place, there’s your “SUDDENLY.” And any moment could be that moment. Any moment, God could do that something awesome, like you’ve never seen before in your life. That thing maybe only you and He knows about, any moment could be your set time to receive it!

 

Now the real question is will you let this seed take root? God wants to do something amazing in your life. Get into agreement with Him and declare, “God, this message is for me today. I’m raising my expectations. I’m shaking off doubt, negativity, self-pity, little dreams and little goals. God, I’m going to believe You for the awesomeness You said You would do for me!” Surrender your thoughts, words and attitudes to Him and open the door for God to do that awesome thing He’s never done before… today could be the day!

Real Love

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Ahh, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most quoted chapters in the bible. Countless wedding vows include it’s beautiful words, any sermon ever uttered on the topic of love use it as a foundation, and yet so many of us just don’t seem to carry it over into our daily lives.

What a lot of Christians seem to forget is that spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, how much you know about the bible, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you treat other people. It’s measured by the love you allow to operate through you. One of my absolute favorite Christian songs is, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” For me, the whole teaching of Christ is summed up in that one statement.

1 Corinthians 13 tells us very specifically what REAL love is. If we are truly walking in love we treat each other with courtesy and respect. This scripture also tells us that love does not envy, it’s not proud, it keeps no record of wrongs. Are you patient with the person at the checkout register that may be moving too slowly for you? Are you supportive of your coworkers? Are you quick to forgive and slow to become angry? I’m not perfect in this area by any means either, but I did make a decision to really strive to be better at it today than I was yesterday.

When you really try and you seek God on ANY matter you will gain control and victory over it. I think it’s also important to note that none of the descriptions of love have a thing to do with feelings. That’s because love is a CHOICE. You can choose to show love toward people even when you don’t feel like it. Today, I want to encourage you to choose to show compassion and be considerate to others. Not only will you feel better about yourself but you’ll experience a peace you never have before. Knowing that you did right by people, even if they aren’t doing right by you – God sees that and He will reward you with greater blessings than you can even dare to dream of!

Your Storage of Blessings

The bible talks about how God has blessings stored up for those that honor Him. Think about that. God has the right people, promotions, ideas, and good breaks that already have your name on them. They’ve been stored up for you. The question is, how do you see them released?

1) Honor God and keep Him first place.

2) Make room for them in your thinking and believe that something big is in your future.

I want to encourage you that right now something good is headed your direction. The bible says God’s blessings will chase you down! Know that increase is looking for you, favor is looking for you, good breaks are looking for you! My question is, are you making room for it? Are you taking off the limits in your thinking? Are you preparing for increase?

There will always be people that try to talk you out of it, maybe even your own thoughts. When you look at it in the natural, you may think, “It’s impossible. There’s no way.” But that’s when you have to rise up in faith and declare God’s promises for yourself. You have to make room for the blessings He has in store for you.

Today, why don’t you take the limits off God? Even if you don’t see how it can turn around in the natural, remember that our God is a supernatural God. He has blessings already stored up for you. Make the choice to put God first in your life and choose to believe His word because He said He wants to amaze you with His goodness. You just have to do your part and keep your faith; allow God to direct your steps. If you live your life like that you will receive those blessings He has stored up for you!

Avoiding Strife

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

Too often, people fall into the trap of strife. Above I listed just a few of the verrry many bible scriptures that warn us against getting caught up in it. Someone says something that rubs you the wrong way or tries to cut you down and before you know it, there’s tension, quarreling, regretful comments and actions.

This is the enemy’s greatest trick to keep people from living in victory. But you don’t have to get all worked up just because someone else wants to argue with you; you can rise above it. Like the first verse says, you can simply drop the matter before it turns into something bigger than it needs to be. You don’t have to sink down to somebody’s level and argue with them and try to prove that you’re right. You weren’t put on this earth to correct everybody around you. And you don’t owe anyone the peace of mind you would be sacrificing by giving into this tactic of the enemy.

If you are going to be all that God’s called you to be, you have to learn to avoid strife. Instead of letting disagreements pull your relationships apart, look for common ground to draw you closer to the people in your life. Look for peace. Look for ways to be a blessing. Avoid strife so you can enjoy your life and experience the fullness of blessing God has for you.

I want to encourage you today to choose to stay above it. The discontent, the anxiety, the unrest can all be avoided when you choose to take the high road. Make the choice to seek peace and walk in love and be an example of Jesus everywhere you go. It’s more than just wearing a cross around your neck or claiming to be a Christian with your words. You have to actually LIVE IT if you expect to be believed. I’m not saying it’s always easy and I’m certainly not perfect either. But if you’ll guard yourself against falling into this trap then sit back and get ready to watch the Creator of the universe go to work fighting your battles FOR YOU.

Keep On

Is there something you’re believing God for today? Does it seem like it’s taking a long time to come to pass? Be encouraged because the bible says that through faith and patience you will inherit His promises. Not maybe or probably but you WILL inherit His promises. If you’ll stay in faith, declare with me, you will see that situation turn around!

The problem is that most people give up just before they get their miracle. They stop when things get hard or it takes longer than they thought it should. But the bible says to, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Let this reassure you, when you continually ask and continually seek God you WILL see that promise come to pass!

Today, I want to encourage you to submit your worries to God; keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Trust that God is working behind the scenes right now in this very moment. He’s deeply concerned about whatever concerns you, and He has a plan to not only bring you out but bring you out better off than even you could ask for. Don’t give up! Thank Him for His promises and remember that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek after Him!