"In the middle of the race" - Part 1

I went to read my Bible this week and just sat there numb.  No great prayers of praise and joy, no eloquent phrases of thanksgiving, no deep and honest prayers of humble confession - just NOTHING.  Zip, silence.  My head and heart felt alot like the day outside my window, damp, cold and foggy.  Times with God are sluggish and the words just don't come to me so well when I'm praying these days.  I am weary.  You know that weariness when you've feel overwhelmed but don't know how to respond because it's all too much now.  Motivation is scarce.  At the start of my Christian life, enthusiasm abounded but now that I'm "in the middle of the race" it's hard to see where I'm going some days.


So what do we do when we feel this way?  How do you get through these times?   God tells us what we need to do in Hebrews chapter 12.  Take a look at these steps :


* Remember the great faith heroes of the past.  We're not alone in this journey of faith.  Good role models can spur us on and inspire us to not give up.  The bible is full of amazing people of faith who bear witness to the power of faith and God's faithfulness. Go back to your bible and read over some of those stories.
 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, (Hebrews 12:1a).


* Ask the Lord to reveal the sin in your life, confess it and turn away from it.  Sin trips us up and interferes with the work we are to do for Christ and our relationship with God.  It is vital that we take sin seriously and confess it.  Resisting this step leads you away from God.
 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1b).


*Understand that the Christian life is not a sprint but a long distance race requiring perseverance.  Our culture is all about instant gratification but believers in Christ are called to persevere, to wait even to the point where you won't receive your end goal now but when Christ returns.  We need spiritual muscle and stamina to run this race called faith.
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1b).


*Concentrate on Jesus.  Life's stresses, pressures and busyness can shift our gaze from Jesus onto ourselves so subtly and quickly.  It is a conscious action to readjust our eyesight back onto Christ.
 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2).


*Be encouraged for you have a Saviour who understands.  Take heart that Jesus knows weariness and endured constant opposition yet was victorious.  Jesus is therefore your hope and he gave us the Holy Spirit to be our encourager and helper in spiritual maturity.
 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow easy and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3).


We are not left to fend for ourselves as we navigate life's  storms. We have been given God's revealed truth in the Bible and the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to help us.   Above all, we have Christ, the foundation of our hope and the object of our faith.  In him we are secured and assured of our eternal life.


Next week I'll continue with Hebrews 12 and talk about growing spiritual muscle that gives you stamina in tough times.


Question:   When things get tough what is your tendency, to give up or persevere?  What step above do you struggle with the most?