"Calmly Running The Race"
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Christian Encouragement
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October 31, 2001
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Hello Everyone!
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Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV---"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
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Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV--" Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
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**First of all, I have quoted the New International Version of this scripture and also the
King James Version, as some of you have informed me you prefer the KJV to the NIV.**
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I dug out my Webster's Dictionary and looked up the words "perseverance" and "patience".
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Perseverance: continuing course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Patience:
calm endurance. 1. enduring pain, trouble etc.
without complaining. 2. calmly tolerating delay, confusion etc. 3. diligent, persevering.
I also decided to look up "endurance" for the fun of it.
Endurance: the ability to last.
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My conclusion: The author of Hebrews is saying that we must calmly and without
complaining, continue the course of action (the race) in spite of difficulty, opposition,
delay or confusion; and through faith in Christ, our eyes fixed on HIM, we will have the
ability to last or endure for as long as is needed. Sometimes, in this race, I forget that
it doesn't depend on ME. "Did I leave out something when I presented God's plan of
salvation?" "Did I sound silly when I wrote that last encouragement?" "Did I say it
right?" "Did I do it right?" "Who am I to say, write or do ANYTHING?" "I fall soooo
short!" "I'm going to just sit down and shut my mouth!" Blah, Blah, Blah!
When we forget that it doesn't depend on us, we lose that calm that is so necessary in
this race. Then, when we've lost the calm, we begin to complain, "This is too difficult"
or "I'm tired of all the opposition". We grow impatient and eventually become confused and
asked God, "Why isn't this working out?"
If you've accepted Christ as your Savior, you are in the race. You can run it in a calm
and steady manner, throw up your hands and plop yourself down and do nothing, or run it
like your hair is on fire. With the latter, you are guaranteed "burn-out". It's great to
desire a wonderful outcome from your endeavors, but if you begin to think or feel like it
all depends on you, forget it! Dig a little deeper, and you'll find that entire thought is
nothing but proud and arrogant. I thoroughly dislike those words! Why? Because, on
occasion, I've been guilty of them. I didn't know it at the time, but I do now.
Ask God to show you you're heart. When he does, and if something "rotten" is revealed to
you, don't fall apart. Admit to Him you understand it's wrong. Ask Him to forgive you and
to remove it far from you, then ask Him to show you a more excellent way! I'd like to
share with you something the Lord has done for me recently. Quite some time ago, the Lord
laid a particular task upon my heart. He made it clear to me there was something He wanted
me to do. My heart was pure, my conscience clear. I was excited, on fire for the Lord and
ready to go! I was going in His strength and following the direction of the Holy Spirit.
When faced with fierce outside opposition, I just chalked it up as a blessing and
continued on. Then, one morning, I got up and realized there was a brick wall. It wasn't
coming from an outside source, it was inside. I was discouraged, tired, frustrated,
confused and burned-out. I tried to figure it out....but I couldn't. No matter how hard I
tried to chip away at that wall, it wouldn't budge. I went to the Lord.
"What's this all about, Lord?"
Silence.
"Father, why is there such a brick wall? I thought I was doing just what you wanted me to
do! Would You please take this thing down? Just beat it down for me."
Silence. Days go by.
With desperation, "Father, is it me? Show me my heart...."
" 'Pride' and 'Haughty' ", was His reply.
I almost choked! My eyes were closed and I could actually see the words printed out. At
that moment, I didn't fully understand His answer, but He had made it so real to me. All I
could say in that moment was, "Yes, Father. I agree with whatever You say. Forgive me and
remove it far from me."
I went in and started to share this with Russ. At first, he chuckled. "Proud and haughty?
I don't think you're at all "proud and haughty", he said. I told him, "But this is what
the Lord MADE ME KNOW!" We both got quiet.
As I began to think this through outloud, I first figured out the 'pride' part of it.
Okay.....When I write an encouragement, I'm always afraid I will sound silly. God's Word
is never silly, but my presentation of it might sound stupid. Thinking it depends in any
way on me, therein lies the pride. I now understood that part of it.
Haughty? Where's the 'haughty' part of it? I grabbed the dictionary. Here's Webster's
definition:
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Haughty: having or showing great pride in oneself and
contempt for others; arrogant.
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I felt SICK! Right away, the Lord made clear to me in what particular situation I had been
acting haughty. Funny thing is, I hadn't realized, until that moment. This didn't have
anything to do with the "Christian Encouragements", but the Lord had stopped me cold from
writing another word! He had work to do on me. He has now done it, again. Through His
revelation to me and in His strength, I have chosen to "throw off the sin" that has
hindered and entangled me. I knew I had been angry, but hadn't realized how harsh and
critical I had become. I do now! He gave me a change of heart. He had to stop me, then
reveal my sin to me, and in so doing, he broke my heart. Then He helped me to look at that
particular situation and person/people with a much softer heart....a more loving heart.
His mission has been accomplished!
Even as I write this to all of you now, I keep thanking God for loving me enough to take
the time to correct me, forgive me, reveal my sin to me and making it crystal clear. Will
I ever have a haughty spirit again? I sure hope not....but, if I do, I am totally positive
the Lord will stop me again and bring it to my attention!
I realize this was a long encouragement....okay, I know they are ALL long. But, as the
Lord teaches me and reveals insights, I would like to continue sharing them with my
brothers and sisters in Christ. I will not worry whether or not my thoughts and words are
expressed well, but rather I hope that the Lord's words and His recent lessons to me will
be an encouragement to some of you.
May His Holy Spirit, freely and without hindrance, work in all of our hearts and minds
that we may calmly run the race that is set before us with Godly perseverance, patience
and endurance keeping in mind that the results belong to Him. God love your hearts!
In Christ's wonderful love,
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Debbie Reed-Parman
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