Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
Even though the Olympics have come and gone, the final ceremonies have taken place and the torch has been extinguished, here’s one final thought that struck me during the games.
Over the past few weeks I’ve watched runners, jumpers and swimmers compete in race after race trying to achieve their Olympic dream. As I’ve been watching it occurred to me that the winners never stopped in the middle of the race to see what was happening around them.
They didn’t waste time looking from side to side to see what their competitors were doing---if they were keeping up or falling behind. They didn’t stop to check their time in the middle of the race.
They simply ran or swam their race to the absolute best of their ability, not knowing the results until the end.
As I watched, it occurred to me that if we really desire to complete the race that God has laid out for us in life, we need to follow their example.
We need to avoid the temptation to waste time, energy and focus looking around at others who are running their race, getting caught up in the sins that come so easily. Instead, we need to give all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength to wholeheartedly following the plan God has for our lives and run our race with passion.
You see, what I’ve found in my own life, is that is really isn’t the “big” sins that trip me up and cause me to stumble in my race.
Instead, the things that easily cause me to stumble are issues that many of us don’t even admit are sins.
Competitiveness
Comparison
Seeking Approval from others
Criticizing or critiquing others
Jealousy
Looking at another’s life and saying “That’s not fair”
It’s the sin of stopping to see how another is running their race that too often causes myself and too many other woman to be distracted from their own race and fall off pace.
It’s a “sin that too easily entangles.”
What is the cure?
Stop looking around and focus on your own race.
How do we do that?
By fixing our eyes on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)
The truth is that if we truly want to be victorious women who fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, we need to stop looking at what God is doing in the lives of those around us and focus our attention on our Heavenly Father.
We need to spend time with Him and in His Word so that we can learn to hear His voice telling us which direction He wants us to go and how He wants us to run our race.
Rather than looking all around, we need to follow the example of the athletes we’ve seen this week and devote ourselves entirely to running our race to the best of our ability and let others do the same.
That’s how we can all win the true prize at the end of our lives: Hearing our Heavenly Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
