Sept 8th Devotion
John North
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Embrace the race God gives you!
I love the idea in this passage that God took the time to trace out a race for you to run. He took the time to map out a particular route, a certain pace, various teammates, key coaches, a set amount of resources, unique strengths, a marked distance, a distinct terrain, a definite climate... and the list goes on.
It’s a race you’ve been given, not one you’ve chosen!
Often we make the mistake of believing that we know what is best for ourselves. We end up wishing that we could have chosen the race we should have run, because our current one isn’t glamorous, rewarding or fun enough.
What increases that feeling of dissatisfaction with our own race is the comparison game we often play. We can spend hours and hours on social media, stalking our friends, acquaintances, celebrities, and people we don’t even like. The longer we look at their lives and compare them to our own, the more the feeling of dissatisfaction intensifies.
Harry Ironside once said "We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction."
Take some time out to thank God for all the good things that have come out of the race you have been given to run. Thank him for the people you have met during the journey. Thank him for the lessons you have learned. Thank him for how those stretching seasons led to you growing more and becoming a more mature person in Christ. Thank him for the times he was faithful to you despite your failures.
Trust that God had a reason for placing you in that job, in that neighborhood, in that family, in that church. Embrace his calling upon your life, follow his leading and things will start to fall into place.
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Embrace the race God gives you!
I love the idea in this passage that God took the time to trace out a race for you to run. He took the time to map out a particular route, a certain pace, various teammates, key coaches, a set amount of resources, unique strengths, a marked distance, a distinct terrain, a definite climate... and the list goes on.
It’s a race you’ve been given, not one you’ve chosen!
Often we make the mistake of believing that we know what is best for ourselves. We end up wishing that we could have chosen the race we should have run, because our current one isn’t glamorous, rewarding or fun enough.
What increases that feeling of dissatisfaction with our own race is the comparison game we often play. We can spend hours and hours on social media, stalking our friends, acquaintances, celebrities, and people we don’t even like. The longer we look at their lives and compare them to our own, the more the feeling of dissatisfaction intensifies.
Harry Ironside once said "We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction."
Take some time out to thank God for all the good things that have come out of the race you have been given to run. Thank him for the people you have met during the journey. Thank him for the lessons you have learned. Thank him for how those stretching seasons led to you growing more and becoming a more mature person in Christ. Thank him for the times he was faithful to you despite your failures.
Trust that God had a reason for placing you in that job, in that neighborhood, in that family, in that church. Embrace his calling upon your life, follow his leading and things will start to fall into place.
Recent
Archive
2021
May
June
June 1st DevotionJune 2nd DevotionJun3 3rd DevotionJune 4th DevotionJune 7th DevotionJune 8th DevotionJune 9th DevotionJune 10th DevotionJune 11th DevotionJune 14th DevotionJune 15th DevotionJune 16th DevotionJune 17th DevotionJun 18th DevotionJune 21st DevotionJune 22nd DevotionJune 23rd DevotionJune 24th DevotionJune 25th DevotionJune 28th DevotionJune 29th DevotionJune 30th Devotion
July
July 1st DevotionJuly 2nd DevotionJuly 5th DevotionJuly 6th DevotionJuly 7th DevotionJuly 8th DevotionJuly 9th DevotionJuly 12th DevotionJuly 13 DevotionJuly 14th DevotionJuly 15th DevotionJuly 16th DevotionJuly 19th DevotionJuly 20th DevotionJuly 21st DevotionJuly 22nd DevotionJuly 23rd DevotionJuly 26th DevotionJuly 27th DevotionJuly 28th DevotionJuly 29th DevotionJuly 30th Devotion
August
Aug 2nd DevotionAugust 3rd DevotionAug 4th DevotionAug 5th DevotionAug 6th DevotionAug 9th DevotionAug 10th DevotionAug 11th DevotionAug 12th DevotionAug 13th DevotionAug 16th DevotionAugust 17th DevotionAug 18th DevotionAug 19th DevotionAug 20th DevotionAug 23rd DevotionAug 24th DevotionAug 25th DevotionAug 26th DevotionAug 27th DevotionWarning - If you are reading thisWarning - If you are reading thisAug 30th DevotionAug 31 DevotionBreaking News
September
Sept 1 DevotionSept 2nd DevotionSept 3rd DevotionPeace in the Middle EastSept 6th DevotionSept 7th DevotionWho are these two?Sept 8th DevotionSept 9th DevotionSept 10th DevotionSept 13th DevotionNew World OrderSept. 14th DevotionOne World RelgionSept 15th DevotionSept 16th DevotionSept 17th DevotionSept 20th DevotionWorld ChaosThe two witnesses are deadSept 22nd DevotionSept 23rd DevotionSept 24th DevotionSept 27th DevotionCan it get worse?
No Comments