Jump Up, And Get Back In The Race

So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection. 1Cor. 15:58 The Living Bible

Good Morning Girlfriends:

I remember listening to a lady share a story when her family went to watch a race, that a family member was in, the runners were full on their way around the track, when one of the runners that had been close to the lead had fell. What seemed like a long time that the girl had laid on the ground, would not be able to get back up and continue on with the race. The crowd was silent as all eyes were on this one girl, and to everyone's astonishment, she regained herself and decided to continue on in the race. The crowd cheered her on as she amazingly little by little gained ground and was catching up to the other runners. She stayed strong in her strides as she was finally caught up and began to take ground as she was in the top three. The lady telling the story continued saying, the crowd was going wild as this young girl raced ahead of the other two runners and she took the lead, and she turned up her speed to win the race.

You can just imagine how the crowd was cheering for this girl when she got back up to continue on with the race. The whistles, the clapping, the cheering, the shouts of many voices would be ringing in her ears. I can only imagine how exhilarated she felt as the adrenaline was coursing through her body and her spirit, knowing that she could have given up, but that she got up the courage and the strength to finish the race, not knowing what the outcome would be.

Girlfriends, this is the same thing for us as well as we go through life, sometimes we start out with good intentions to finish a project that we start, or finish a book, or like me, writing a devotion each day and sometimes things in life happen and sets us back a bit and knocks us off target. Sometimes we find that we either pick that book back up or months down the road finish that project that was pushed to the way side. I have to admit, that even for myself, I let my devotions go to the way side for a bit because of life's happenings, knowing this is what God has called me to do, I allowed life to take over my thoughts, so to say, instead of carrying on know that God has it all worked out. Even though I know all of these things, I had stopped doing what I knew I was supposed to be doing, because it was just easier to not do it.

Like the girl in the race, she could have stayed down on the ground and not finished the race. She could have said, "what's the point, I won't win now." The point is, she didn't allow those thoughts to consume her mind, instead she jumped back up, dusted herself off and began to run, run, run, and as she gathered her dignity, her strength, she continued on and pushed forward with power and won the race.

Girlfriends, whether we give up on life, stop working on a project or even turn from following God, He would say to us..."Get back up, dust yourself off, and continue on your journey." He doesn't hold it against us, that is why we have His grace each and every day to start a new day, to make it a better one than the day before. God did not say that life would be easy, but He did say that He would be there with us each day walking by our side to help us through it. One scripture says, that He will never leave us or forsake us, found in Deut. 31:6. Numbers 23:19 says, He can be fully trusted to honor His word. That's a promise to each and every one of us. God also says in His word that He will never give up on us. James 1:12. God will hold us up in order to go on as it tells us in Psalm 37:24.

We as followers of Jesus and sisters in the Lord, we are to encourage one another when one is down and to even be an encourager to those outside of the fold, how else will they know or experience the love of the Father. None of us are perfect and we will never be as long as we are on this earth, so each day we are to strive to be the best that we can be, be a good listener to those who are hurting, be a good encourager to those who have stumbled and fallen along the way. We are to encourage them to get back up and start over. Look at how many times a little one may fall off of their bike and they have to get back up on it to start again until they get the hang of the balancing act in order to keep that bike moving forward. It really doesn't matter how many times we fall down, fall back or even fall off as long as we pick ourselves back up and keep going. God tells us to continue to press towards the mark, forgetting those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before. I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14. That prize is reaching heavens shore and seeing all of our loved ones that has went on before us, so we have to keep in the race of life and face whatever life has to offer and know that when and if we fall there will be others to come along beside us helping us back up into the race of life, praise God.

Let's Pray,

Gracious Heavenly Father, we lift up your wonderful name, we praise you for who you are. Lord we thank you that you do not give up on us that you are there with us through every storm of life. We thank you that if we stumble and fall or even if we are right down and out, that you are there right by our side telling us that you love us no matter what the fall was. You are always there to forgive when we ask. Jesus I ask that you would send your love and presence to surround all of those who are hurting and broken right now, to all the ones who may have fallen off of their path, and to all of the ones who may have turned away from you completely. Lord, I speak your word over them to tell them that they are loved by you, and they are so precious to you. You see them as a diamond in the ruff and you see each one as beautiful no matter how much dust may be on them. So girlfriends, God would say I love you and get back up on your feet and continue to fight the good fight of faith and I will see you through. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed my sweet girlfriends as we together bless others who may need a little blessing.