Running the Race with Confidence
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”’ (Hebrews 12:1-5, NLT)
In this fast-paced life, it is so easy to get distracted, go off course, become overwhelmed by all our responsibility, and stop believing in ourselves. Lately, God has really been showing me what pure, true, and genuine belief is. I have been learning that when you truly believe in something, like God’s power in you, you are close to unstoppable. It seems like at this point in my life everyone is in a race to get the best GPA or the best job or find that perfect relationship, but God is saying a little something different to me.
Here it is: Everything in your life it isn't about hitting that end goal; it's about the process. If you think about it, a crummy, rushed, and thoughtless process equals an equally awful end goal. We tend to get so stressed about checking our way through a to-do list, that we completely neglect the things we need to learn along the way. We get so inundated with flying from Point A to Point D, that we miss all the points and lessons in between the start and the finish.
To run the race God has set before you, you need to face each and every situation with the right mindset. The truth is, if your mindset doesn’t match the expectations you have set for yourself or others, they are never going to be met and you are never going to be satisfied. If you want to see progress and feel growth you have to learn to be God’s student. Just like Cortney said last week, when you submit to learning from God’s example and let him communicate with you, you will learn to the fullest possible extent that you can.
The key to having true success in anything you do is believing yourself to be successful, which is basically believing that God has no limits on what He can do in and through you. It all comes down to having confidence in yourself and above all, having complete and utter belief that God is who He says He is and will do what He promises He will do. This is the mindset that will empower a pure and relaxed consciousness. This is the mindset that will move mountains and revive lives. This is the mindset that will inspire new ideas with pure intentions.
This mindset it a prized possession. It is water to the thirsty and company to the lonely. It is God’s gift to you: clarity. Just like anything you’re trying to implement in your life, it takes time, patience, and perseverance to obtain this outlook. Each and every day is not going to be easy or perfect, but you will be living your purpose.
Maybe today you’re hurting, discouraged, and lonely, and maybe you’re just tired of feeling this way. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not easy, but be encouraged because it is not over yet. Do yourself a favor: Look back on your life a year ago today. Think about the things you were hoping and praying for back then and then shift your focus. Look at how God has delivered those things in your favor. It may not look the way you envisioned it would; it may not be the race you first thought you would run. You may not even see the full expanse of how far the victory goes, but if God is in it, it is a win. We all have so much victory, growth, and joy ahead of us, and with the right mindset, each challenge will be another chance for you to grow and learn. And from there, you will hopefully learn to stop settling for what’s doable, because that’s exactly what we do to ourselves when we put limits on God. We settle for the bare minimum that is accomplished in our own strength. Instead, start challenging yourself and setting goals that you could have never imagined yourself chasing after.
It’s time to start realizing that God has so much more for you in this life that you even dare to imagine. Once you get that mindset going, I know you will find peace and in time, you will find that you have been called to things higher than yourself. You will see that there are bigger things out there than a college degree and a perfect life in the suburbs. You are on the verge of seeing the magnificent plans that God is ready to play out through you.
Isaiah 41:10 says “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT).
Take a pause today and give yourself some grace. Stop stressing out, friend, because God always has your best interest in mind and that is an asset that you could never afford in your own power. So live today confident in the fact that you’re on your way to getting all the pieces. Your only job is to trust in Him, enjoy the journey, and stay focused.
