#runningtherace

[christiantoday]

#runningtherace #godisfaithful #godisgood #believer #jesus #christiantoday #quotes #blessed #thankful #christianquotes #christianimages

[erraticassasin]

Dear Lord, forgive us for the times we don’t say yes to you. Give us the courage and strength to say yes more often. Happy Sabbath! 🙏🏾 #HappySabbath #RunningTheRace #RunningTheRaceOfFaith (at Roswell, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjvKO8Xjanc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dustydahlin]

A New Year - A New Start

You can equate a new year to many things. A new season of life. A fresh start. The completion of something old. A break with the past. The turning of a new leaf. A victory. And so much more. 

When I think about a new year, I think of a starting line. In many ways, a starting line is very much like a new year. 

When you approach a starting line, you arrive knowing how much time you have spent in preparation for the race. All your training from the previous year has brought you to a thin white line on a track. You arrive. You place your toe on the line. The adrenaline and excitement of the upcoming race courses through your thoughts and veins. 

As you ready yourself for the race, you realize that you have no idea how it will turn out. The only thing you know for certain is that you have prepared for this moment. 

Every obstacle and exercise you endured. Every sprain and pain you worked through with your coach. Every lesson and every test you completed have thoroughly trained you for the race ahead. You have no idea what the outcome will be, but you know that you are stronger and better trained as you wait at the starting line. 

Likewise, A new year is a starting line. You have worked and labored and struggled through the previous year, but it was not in vain. Everything you faced - no matter how hard or difficult - served to make you stronger and better equipped for the new year ahead. Yes! The excitement of something new - a new race, a new journey, a new season - courses through your thoughts and your expectations, but you do not know what it will look like. You do not know what you will face. You do not know where it will take you.

The only thing you do know is you are prepared. And that makes you a force with which to be reckoned. 

So as you place your toe on the line, remember how far you have come, how much stronger life has made you, and push off into a new season of life. 

"... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." (Heb. 12:1-2).

[dehejia]

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I’m a screamer when it comes to my babe! #winner #nogames #runningtherace #crosscountry #imthatmom #1son https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kR7ajBBgo/?igshid=wp8ae4ownh3f

[fatherethanonfire]

So honored to be the guest this afternoon on Pastor Sean Weston's podcast, "Running the Race," on the Letter to the Hebrews. #lettertothehebrews #runningtherace #fatherethan #instapriest #everydayimpastorin #fitness #endurance #cloudofwitnesses #episcopalchurch #episcopalchicago #shcburrridge #burrridge (at Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzwAaXABlLHTTK4KAK3K18nIP9Qf_rEwbXUs9w0/?igshid=1jhu21l4klm4w

[emerysmithii]

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:12‭-‬14 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/php.3.12-14.MSG #pressingon #runningtherace #onmyway #allthewayhome #eyeonthegoal #eyeontheprize #lookingupatJesus #noturningback #lookingahead #mightycloudofwitnesses #cheeringmeonfromheaven #emdelibles #youversionimage (at Escondido, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqz0KfwF4OA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yprxidkhl2um

[lissa232]

#verseoftheday #runningtherace #makingittothefinishline #endurance @olive_tree_bible (at Columbia, South Carolina)

[cccto-semi-pro]

Running the Race Towards an Eternal Crown

Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2

This past Sunday, Steven Huang preached on the Hebrews 12 analogy of the Christian life to a race. We learned that the Greek word used for race was agon which is the root word for “agony”. This makes sense as often times in our “race” of life we encounter struggles that seem insurmountable; perhaps it would be easier just to quit the race.  It’s amazing that this visual is used in the Bible to illustrate the Christian walk!

He made it clear that through this passage, God has not abandoned us in this race. In Hebrews 12:1-2 He has given us a glimpse of instruction on HOW  and WHY we run this race. 

Steven cited some examples from the Bible on WHY we run:

Philippians 3:12 - our calling

1 Thessalonians 4:4 - His will for us

1 Corinthians 9:25 - Crown of Life

1 Peter 1:4 - Inheritance

Habukkuk 3:18 - Joy and hope of salvation 

Why we do things is important, how do we keep going if we don’t know what we’re doing it for? The following questions will help us explore the reason we run and the ways we can more effectively run.

Questions

-Why we Run

What was something you remember doing for a long time i.e. a diet, exercise, hobby? What motivated you to keep doing it? What were practical ways you kept yourself on the right track? 

Why do we run the Christian race? Why go through agony?

-How to Run

Has knowing that something has been done before helped you accomplish goals? How? Why is it important to know? or Is it? 

What do you usually do when things go sour? Why or how do you get back on track?

What do you think about Steven’s practical method of reading the Bible to persevere? What in it specifically can help you? 

What is a “weight” from a spiritual standpoint? Is weight, sin? What is weight’s relationship to sin? 

Was there a time when you had to “remove a weight” in order to pursue your personal goal? What was it and why did you do it? How about your pursuit of Christ? 

How did you overcome a sin that was entangling you?

What does it mean to “rejoice in our savior”? How does one do this? 

Knowing the Christ helps us during the race, what thoughts go through your mind? Explain.