Paul, as he was serving his final sentence in prison and awaiting his earthly demise, he knew with confidence that he had done all that he could do to love God and love people with his life. Because his hope was in Christ, he knew what was in store. Though his earthly end was drawing near, his eternity in glory, was about to begin. As He held fast to the truth, he was able to say with confidence: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – (2 Timothy 4:7)
Can we with confidence, also claim that we are fighting the good fight, running the race to which we are called, and all the while, keeping the faith? It is a weighty question, and one that can only be answered with a “yes“, if we walk out our days dependent on Christ. Some days it is easier to fight the good fight than others. Just as some days are beyond difficult to get out of the house and run, so too is our faith in action. Yesterday, between the heat and the having to run solo, it nearly kept me from walking out my front door. Deep within me, I knew that if I did not get out and go, I would regret it. It was hot and hilly, and quite frankly, a bit miserable. However, when I was finished, I was so grateful to have gone. Likewise, the weariness and the worries of the world can wear us down and keep us from walking out our front door, or from reaching out where we know we are called to go. That being said, we have a Savior who calls and equips us to run and fight in faith. All that is needed He will provide. May we stand firm in our faith as we run the race to which we are called; and in His power, fight the good fight until our final breath is drawn.
Let our lives be led,
by the Lord’s great love;
as He fuels our faith,
seek His ways above.
stand firm in our faith.
Let our race be run,
in a mighty way;
so that “Well done’s” heard,
on our final day.
Let’s fight the good fight,
and run our race strong;
propelled by the faith,
that pulls us along.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to fight the good fight and run the race that You have set before us, through the faith that You impart to every heart who seeks You. Thank You that the reward that awaits a life lived for You, far outweighs any darkness or suffering that we endure in the here and now. Forgive us for taking our eyes off of eternity, and allowing the here and now to define us. Teach us to fix our eyes on You and what lasts forever, not on that which will one day fade. Lead us to love others intentionally and generously, just as You so love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we fight the good fight and run our own race through a relentless faith in You. Amen.
This entry was posted in Awe, Blessing, Comfort, Community, Courage, Faith, Fear, Forgiveness, Gentleness, Grace, Gratitude, Hope, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Love, New, Obedience, Offering, Peace, Poetry, Possibilities, Praise, Purpose, Serve, Strength, Surrender, Trust, Voice and tagged 2 Timothy 4, awaiting, begin, called, Christ, claim, confidence, define, dependent, difficult, done, drawing near, earthly demise, endure, equips, eternity, final breath, final sentence, finished, forgive, fought, glorified, glory, God, good fight, grateful, held fast, His power, hope, kept the faith, knew, laughter, lead, life, love, love God, love people, miserable, need, Paul, prison, provide, race, reaching, regret, relentless, running, Savior, serving, stand firm, teach, trust, truth, walk out our days, wear down, weariness, weighty question, world, worries. Bookmark the permalink.
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. – (1 Timothy 4:7)
People tell stories that do not agree with God’s truth that seem to have some sort of moral or lesson that is meant to be followed. If it is not in line with what God says in His word, it is not what we are called to follow. Our charge is to devote ourselves to God and spend time in His word. The more we invest in knowing Him and His word, the better we know and understand the truth, and how He is calling us to live. May we invest our hearts and minds into godly training, rather than allowing the tides to carry us to and fro. The Lord has a plan and a purpose for each of us; it is our job to seek Him and obey what He asks, in order to walk it out.
are wrapped up in love;
to seek Christ above.
Any words spoken,
that do not align;
are not His design.
Do words promote love,
for God and for man?
If so, they’re from Him,
and are meant to stand.
We are called to know,
the Lord and His word;
so we can discern,
each thing that is heard.
O Lord, raise us up,
so that we will know;
Your truth at all times,
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not call us to internalize everything we hear, but rather You call us to train ourselves to walk in Your way and know Your truth. Thank You that as we seek You, You show us what is of You, and what is not – granting us discernment so that we will not be tossed to and fro by every new story we hear. Forgive us for getting caught up in anything that is not of You, and teach us to trust You more, so that we will clearly hear Your leading and follow after what You would ask of us. Show us how to love others as You so wonderfully love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we train ourselves to walk in Your ways and invest in Your truth. Amen.
This entry was posted in Awe, Blessing, Confess, Courage, Faith, Forgiveness, Gentleness, Grace, Gratitude, Hope, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Love, Mercy, Obedience, Offering, Poetry, Possibilities, Praise, Protection, Purpose, Serve, Strength, Surrender, Trust, Voice, Worship and tagged 1 Timothy 4, above, agree, align, asks, called, charge, Christ, design, devote, discern, followed, forgive, glorified, God, godless myths, godly, heard, heart and mind, in line, in love, internalize, invest, Job, joy, know, knowing, lead, lesson, live, love, moral, nothing, obey, plan and purpose, promote, raise up, seek, shout, show, sing, spend time, spoken, stand, stories, teach, train, training, trust, truth, understand, walk out, wives' tales, word. Bookmark the permalink.