Like yesterday, it was 1st of January and alas, we are in December! Did you look at the calendar and wonder what you did this year?
Taking stock of your achievements may sadden or gladden your heart depending on what your list looked like this year.
But do you know no matter how our year looks like we need to finish strong?
The other day, I jogged to reach the main
gates of my house. A lady brought my daughter home and she had been waiting awhile in the car.
I decided to give it a quick dash so the lady wouldn't wait longer than necessary.
When we got back to the house, I
noticed my ankle hurt.
Oh No! I think I strained it.
'Well I’m home now', I thought to
myself.
My agenda was getting my
daughter home; no worries about the strained ankle...
Life kicks in this way for us...
start, run, cross the finish line and hopefully claim our medal at the end of
each race.
But our basic life-patterns consist
of stops, crawls, walks, jogs and everything in between.
When we lose focus, we get carried
away by vain achievements.
We become distracted by speed and
hurry ourselves through life rather than actually living in it.
We miss out on savoring moments that
make our race priceless.
Distraction is what hurts our
journey most.
Like pain I felt on my ankle, distractions are pain we feel on the long run and we should learn to shut their ears and remain
focused.
That same way, life challenges,
pleasures and vanity, wave 'distracters' on our race tracks.
If we must finish well, we must learn
to remain focused.
Although my feet hurt, I was
satisfied in my spirit because the main goal had being achieved.
Finishing strong should matter to us than those treacherous race tracks.
In life’s race, what matters is who carries you, how you get there and
making it through to the finish line
The finish line, Lord!
That’s the whole point of this race!
As the year draws to a close and the beginning of a new year unfolds, I encourage you to finish strong!
Here are three important lessons:
The Power of Focus, fixing your eyes on the finish line will keep you away from the
distractions of life. Just as Apostle Paul, what awaits us on the other side is
greater than what we perceive.
I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
The Virtue of Persistence, The race tracks are treacherous, unforgiving and unmarked. There will
be times you feel like giving up, get distracted but must arm yourself with
persistence.
Get up when you fall, and keep
moving!
Thou therefore
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs
of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier.
2Timothy 2: 3-4
The Substance of Faith
You have to believe,
You will
make it through the tracks
You will
survive the unpredictable whether
You will
make it through the finish line
Yes,
friend, you will
Because
the Lord is with you and you have to believe it.
Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For
by it the elders obtained a good report.
Hebrews 11:1
Prayer: Lord, thank you for carrying me through from the beginning of the year until now. Help me to finish strong and give me the strength that I need for the journey ahead in Jesus Name.
Comment Prompt: What quality can you add to this list?
By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel
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