Wow, what depth this morning in my online Bible study! I want to share one of the 3 tasks with you. Three mornings a week, there is a blog post with 3 sections afterward: Observe, Bible, and Stretch. This morning’s Bible section tooks me pretty deep! I want to share with you that section and my response. Then feel free to add your responses to the comments! Check out the blog post here: Give Us Jesus, Week 5
Quoting from the blog:
Bible — Take a moment and read Hebrews 12:1-2.
In your notebook or journal write out your answers to these questions:
- Is something hindering you in your faith race? Ask God to show you what it is and how to get back on track.
- What can you do to ‘fix your eyes’ on Jesus?
- How did Jesus finish His earthly race? What does that mean for us as His followers?
And my response:
1. Right now, is something hindering my faith race? Fear and Fatigue. Fear of the unknown, how are we going to pay our bills, how am I going to pay for my medicine, how…blah blah blah…God is my provider, and I need to CHOOSE to remember that. Fatigue from not sleeping. Worry gets the better of me, especially as soon as I climb into bed. Hours later, I am still struggling to fall asleep.
2. So how can I fix my eyes on Jesus? Through God’s Word: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” (Matt 6:33-34) “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8) “Though the fig tree not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18) Letting these familiar passages (and many more) come to mind, and even seeking them out if they get stuck in the gunk of life, really helps me take some deep breaths, calm down, and cast my burden once more before the Lord (1 Peter 5:7).
3. How did Jesus finish His earthly race? On the cross. Death. Conquering of Death so that I don’t have to. Which means, though my earthly race may end in death, it ushers in a great entrance into Heaven for eternity with the King of kings, my Abba Father, and my savior Jesus Christ. I’ll take it. That is a race worth finishing. Until then, I’ll train. As the semi-colon reminds me, it isn’t over yet. God is the author of this life, and until He stops writing it, I will press on, no matter how hard it gets, for God is my strength, God is my fortress, and Jesus is my savior. When I am weak, God is strong, and pulls me through. Sometimes He enlists His people to grab my arms and drag me, but He pulls me through!
God, I praise You for these reminders of Your Sovereignty and Your promises. Thank You for Your Word, for revealing Your character and reminding me that You are God and I am not. Thank You for making a way for us to have a relationship with You through Jesus Christ. Amen!
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