Running The Race

After having my daughter, Trinity in 2007 I had put on 70 lbs. I knew I had to get the weight off fast so I began running. Let me tell you, it was NOT fun, especially at first. It hurt, it made me uncomfortable, if I went outside to run I was so embarrassed by what people would think about me, things jiggled that should not have jiggled. Oh! I hated hills! The force pushing against me and don’t let the wind start blowing hard which added extra force against me.
Hot days – ugh! Sweat and thirst, the sun beaming down made the situation no fun. I wanted to give up so many times but I knew the reward of being healthy and looking great was worth it.
In September of 2008 I accomplished my weight loss goal and wound up actually weighing 10 lbs less than my prepregnancy weight. It was an amazing accomplishment and I will never forget it. The daily sacrifices and hard work paid off.
This is similar to how our walk in life seems to be. Yes, there are days that are smooth sailing but a lot of times there are steep hills that we can’t go around and very uncomfortable moments. We can give up at any moment but our reward is so worth our sacrifices and hard work.
Today we are going to cover 4 hit points.
#1 Running from God –
It is true that we will back slide. Some will more than others. Our walk with Christ will be a one foot in, one foot out type of thing also known as straddling the fence so to say. We’ll walk around as if everything is fine and dandy but within we are running from God. We are so buried in our sin that we are ashamed to look up and face our Heavenly Father who literally wants to hold us. Instead we will run and hide.
When we run from God, we allow ourselves to sit on the throne in our lives. We can’t control circumstances and the things or people around us so we get frustrated. We may turn to our old sinful nature since we’re already hanging out in that vulnerable place. We get angry with our family and our friends. We start missing church, won’t pick up our bibles – to afraid to face the Truth.
Let me tell you this – if you are running from God – Stop it. That’s great that you showed up for Bible Study and I would hope that that means that you’re not running from God or you most likely wouldn’t be here but today you may not be running from Him but keep yourself in check for tomorrow. We all have sinful nature – that is life on this earth and always will be – learn to cast your care upon God and learn to say “I’m sorry, Lord.. DARN IT! I did it again. Please give me strength to try harder tomorrow”.
I remember when I was a little kid and I was the unruly kid … which I will always defend myself and say that I was not bad I was just misunderstood. I had a mind of my own, not to mention super courageous and creative… so, it’s not really a big deal if I took the keys to my dad’s spare car and drove it around the yard a few times reaching speeds of 20 miles per hour … I was experienced with go-carts, how much harder could this be? Well, I returned the car just as perfect as could be in its same spot in the drive way. I think I even lined the tire marks on the gravel up just perfect.
My dad usually got home around 5:45 – 6:00 at night and dusk had begun to settle – I was in my room and heard him ask my mom in his stern voice “Who the heck drove a car through our yard?” – Can you imagine the look on my face in my bedroom and the complete and utterly sense of panic that overcame my whole body? You know, that feeling that you get when you know you’re driving a little faster than you should and just happen to pass a cop?!?! That feeling! That sick to the stomach, OH MY GOODNESS, feeling.
I hid in my closet. I knew that the grand jury would begin the trial at any moment asking each of us one by one what happened and who did it – both of my brothers were interrogated and completely innocent – meanwhile I am hiding in the closet… scared to death… but the point that I didn’t have to face my father made me feel so much better about the situation but eventually he came looking for me and the more he asked around “Where is April” the more sick I felt. I knew I had to come out and face him. I came out as if I didn’t know he was home or asking for my presence. He asked me “Did you drive the car through the yard?” and I looked him dead on and said “ haha… a car?!!? No way… Jake (the kid from down the street) let me drive his go-cart around the yard.. That’s it” So not only did I hide, but when I came out to face my dad… I lied straight to him.
Now, my dad was not an idiot. He took my story and walked away to get washed up for dinner. I thought I was off the hook until after dinner he asked me again and I lied again trying to convince him and myself that I was telling the truth. He then looked at me and said “those tire marks are too far apart to be a go-cart. I am not stupid. You drove my car through the yard, didn’t you?!?!” To which I looked at him and saturated in tears said “yes sir”. He then asked me “Why did you lie to me!?!” to which I replied “I don’t know …. I didn’t want to get in trouble.” Well… I got in trouble and I got in a double dose of trouble for lying.
Is that story not a complete image of how we are when we run from our Heavenly Father? We do something bad – we hide – then eventually we have to face Him. We can choose to lie to Him but He is not stupid. He knows everything and sees everything. He sees in us what we choose not to believe about ourselves.
When we run from God we deny the Truth – and you cannot move on with your life until you have come to terms with the truth about things that you’ve done, things that you’re doing, or things that you are planning to do in your mind. He says “Cast your care upon me”. Don’t run from Him.
#2 Running TO God
Running to God just to give thanks or in time of need or just to have Him as our resting place is a beautiful thing! I envision Trinity when I pick her up from daycare. She is in her own little world but when she finally catches a glimpse of her mommy – she drops whatever she is doing (usually a puzzle of some sort) and she runs to me with the biggest smile on her face and completely plummets into my chest and wraps her arms around my neck in the tightest little grip. It’s a moment that only she and I share and she finds rest, relief, and happiness in me. She knows that I have come to take her to her resting place (home), that I have a secure place in the car to transport her, that there is a snack and a cup of juice waiting for her. She then KNOWS that she is going to get home and be fed dinner, given a warm bath, and cuddled before falling asleep.
We have to run to God. There is no clearer picture than the story I just mentioned. He is Jehovah Jireh – God our provider. When we run to Him, we take rest in Him. Matthew 6:33 says “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Run to God. When times are tough and someone has just set you over the edge – don’t run to your gossip friend – Run to God. I find myself wanting to rip people to shreds sometimes for the STUPID and selfish things that they do or say – but I know that if I take that load of venom to a friend … it is poison. Not only have I just placed the burden on them and involved them in my toxic behavior … I have not ran to God. I have once again, in my life, put Him second in line. Run to God with all needs, all frustrations, all things you don’t understand, and don’t forget to run to Him to just say thank you or I love you, sometimes you can just say – “God, I don’t want anything – I just want to be close with you right now”. Run to God.
#3 Running WITH God
For my teaching purposes – running WITH God is running hand in hand with Him to share the Good News. One of our main responsibilities is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 says “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”.”
I’m not as hard core as I use to be when I am running – but I know when I run I am physically and spiritually running with God. I invite Him to share that time with me. It’s like having a workout partner… no joke! You pick someone who can challenge you and push you a little at a time to make you better. Running with God is setting Him in our lives as our workout partner. He always shows up and shows up on time. I can picture Him in my fleshly brain – totally in workout gear, doing jumping jacks as I walk up slumped over and throw my workout bag to the ground. There He is – already getting His heart rate up and jamming out to Jesus Freak by DC Talk on His IPOD – looking at me like “let’s go!”
We may be relentless at first but we feel so awesome at the end of the run and we give thanks for such an unyielding partner to help us and hold us accountable through our funk.
#4 Running FOR God
Running FOR God is our everyday life. How we react to tough times. The words that we speak. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one get the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Note - strict training… not free flowing training … but strict training. Sacrifice, hard work. To continue running for God we have to be steadfast and persevere through our struggles. Running for God is no easy task. I remember my training for my weight loss journey. Limitations from the things that taste sooo good like French fries, cokes, chocolate cake and having to move when I was exhausted. Nothing says dedication more than getting up at 4:50 in the morning to run in the cool of the morning before the sun has fully risen. But can I tell you that those were the most precious moments between me and God. The smell of fresh, crisp air and the fog sometimes still in the distance, the quietness of the morning – before the rush of children needing to get to school and coffee stops before the big meetings at work. Just me and God and an occasional car driving past me. I remember topping the hill and seeing the sun easing up as a rabbit ran past me in terror because I startled him. Even in the sacrifice of waking up early to get my heart rate up – God met me there and His presence was fully known to me. God meets us in our tough spots just like he met me every morning for my daily, AM run.
We have to be careful in the way we carry ourselves as we hold Christ’s name. I had a guy at work the other day tell me about a woman in sales that was just recently let go – He said “She used her body to get all of her clients … but in certain instances she was quick to wear the “JC” hat” as he rolled his eyes. I’m not sure if the guy I work with is a believer but you could tell he had the same perception that a lot of people have about Christians. This is a quote that I heard on a CD – The theologian Karl Rahner put it this way “the number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.” How sobering is that? Amazing!
Sunday at church we had Shepherds Ministries come to visit us. Shepherds offer compassionate, Christian care for adults with developmental disabilities. There was a guy named Saul. Saul was a sweet soul who has fully memorized the New Testament and quotes scripture randomly. It’s so beautiful. Saul got up to tell a little bit about himself with the help of his mentor, Al. Saul told about how he came to Christ and that he loved to share the good news. He then sang a song. Now, Saul was no American Idol, his vocals very pitchy and out of tune – but it was the most beautiful song I had ever heard and I sat in my seat sobbing. I actually wanted to excuse myself and leave the room so that I could just fall down, face to the ground, and cry like a little kid. Not because I felt sorry for Saul but because I felt sorry for myself. We are so caught up in pointless things. Things that have no benefit to the Kingdom of God, yet we allow ourselves to stumble and get caught up with those things. Saul didn’t know of things like what I just explained… he truly lives to share the Good News. He has child like faith and could care less what anyone thinks of him. He sang that song with a heart of worship and it was beautiful! His carefree spirit was overwhelming to my spirit and I was instantly brought back down to a child state of mind and wanted to be more like Saul. He has impacted my life so much in just that meeting. We actually met up after service and exchanged addresses so that we can be pen pals. He had mentioned that he loved to write back and forth and receive letters in the mail and I am that same way. I’m all about an email but there is nothing like getting real mail in the mailbox. Romans 10:15 says “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” I can testify to that verse as Saul and his message were so beautiful and humbling to me. Notice the nouns in Romans 10:15 – “feet” and “news”. This all wraps back to running for God. . We need to be sure we are running FOR God and nothing else. Have you ever been walking and tripped and fell? I have … and I really hurt myself. I hurt my ankle, knee, elbow, and was carrying my child who I also could have hurt really bad but luckily didn’t. My point is – if it hurts that bad just walking and tripping – imagine how bad it will hurt to be running a full sprint and tripping. Ouch!! This is our lives when we’re running for something other than Truth. We will fall hard. I encourage all of us to Run.
Have some time of reflection tonight and in the following days over the four key points of this teaching.
Running From God – Hiding in shame
Running To God – Allow Him to comfort us
Running With God – God running with us as a coach who continuously pushes us. I love this quote “God loves you exactly where you are but refuses to leave you there.”
Running For God – The way we live our lives for Him. At church, home, school, work, grocery store, sitting in traffic, out with friends… Our actions and words – are they lining up?
I can promise you – you will not grow weary when running for the Truth.

In closing scriptures:
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (Paul speaking) - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:7-10 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
2 Timothy 2:5 says “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according the rules.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
God’s word tells us continuously to run the race – therefore Run For God in the life that you live.