Run Determined and Disciplined

We had already been climbing these stairs for 15 minutes and there was so many more to go! We were at Montmorency Falls in Quebec, one of the tallest water falls in North America, and we were climbing the most enormous set of stairs I have ever seen! We kept pausing to rest and get our breath, but even so, I thought I would NOT make it to the top! I wanted to stop and just walk back down. But it would be so worth it to see the view from the top  and walk across the top of the falls! So, I slowed my pace, rested periodically, then set my course for the TOP! The destination, the prize, would be worth the climb!

In life there are times when I lose sight of the prize, when I want to give up. But in scripture there is encouragement to persevere in running with determination and discipline.

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. Hebrew 12:1-2a

I begin by setting my goal

Be aware of the prize!  

The prize is knowing and walking with Jesus who gave us our faith and keeps us growing in it.

Run with Endurance

• Throw off sin that entangles

My sins that entangle are not things like stealing or murder. They are things like fear, lack of faith, comparison, and pride. These are deadly because they’re often unseen. They’re in my heart and they affect my race with God. They are like trying to run a race with heavy wrist and ankle weights. They slow me down so that I’m not moving forward, not learning new ways to trust, God, not stepping out in faith to take on challenges that He sets before me.

Run the race God has set before us

• Don’t give up!

The tree had to come down. It was dead and too close to the house. A good wind storm could knock it right onto the house. So we began sawing, chopping, and all the while pulling in the opposite direction of the house. The process took way longer than we expected it to. Every time we thought the tree would fall, it didn’t! So we went back to sawing some more, and we enlisted even more people to pull! Meanwhile we were being eaten by mosquitoes and were drenched with sweat! Just as we thought this tree would NEVER come down, we shouted “Timber!” and down it came. Not in the direction we wanted, but thankfully not on the house.

In our spiritual lives, though we work hard and progress takes a long time, we must keep “sawing”.  We must untangle our lives from the sins that keep us from hearing and listening to God’s voice.  We must seek to keep listening, to keep asking and to keep living in right relationship with Him and with others.

Accept discipline

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?

He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”Hebrews 12:5-7

• Don’t ignore God’s discipline

No athlete can compete well without disciplining his body. All of us need exercise, and that takes discipline. In my fitness class I am, mostly, motivated to work hard and do my best, to run hard, to lift the heaviest weights I can. But I get tired, and I want to quit! It takes discipline to keep on going. In my spiritual life I am motivated to read the Bible, to spend devotional time with God, to attend Bible study, to read books that will help me grow. But I get distracted, busy, tired and I move away from the discipline of time with the Lord. I begin to miss that time with Him so I discipline myself to get back into the habit of listening to God’s voice through devotions, Bible study and prayer.

• God disciplines those he loves!

When God sends his discipline into to our lives he is treating us as his own child! God has moved my family several times – to vastly different areas of North America. He has taught us through the struggle of adapting to a different culture, meeting new people, living far away from our children and family. He has taught us to depend on him when we feel like a fish out of water. He has taught us not to depend on the comfort and security of what is around us, but to place our confidence in Him! Discipline is not fun while it lasts, but afterwards there is a quiet harvest of living within his presence, confident in following his will. It’s the best place to be! As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.

Stand Firm – on your shaky legs!

So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Hebrews 12:12-13a

As I throw off sins that weight me down and learn to persevere in His strength, as I learn through the discipline he allows in my life, then I can do this! I can grab on again, with my weakened, tired hands. I can take new steps, shaky though they may be, along a straight path of walking with God. I am weaker in ME and stronger in HIM!

Meet me in the forum  to discuss determination and discipline.  What is an area that you need accountability?  Let’s get honest with one another so that we can persevere in the race!

 

Melanie has had Church Planter Wives on her heart for many years. She was part of a new church start during her years in seminary, then she helped her husband start a new church in the 90’s. Since then she has been encouraging, coaching and training new Church Planter Wives. Melanie and her husband, Dan, are excited that God led them to Canada in 2010, where Dan is the professor of Church Planting at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary near Calgary, Alberta. Melanie is working with the Canadian National Baptist Convention to encourage and coach ministry wives and Church Planter Wives. She speaks for women’s groups, and travels to help train, connect and coach ministry wives. Melanie and Dan have 4 young adult children (and one daughter-in-law) who are scattered across the US. It’s always a joy visit them!