Andrea Merrell shares with us, "Sweat dripped from my brow and adrenaline pumped through my veins as I raced toward the finish line.
We were neck-in-neck, neither of us willing to give up. Who would be the winner this time?
It was a question I had asked many times over the years.
It was a question I had asked many times over the years.
My opponent suddenly lurched forward, crossed the finish line, and turned to sneer at me, gloating once again in her victory.
It had become all too familiar—my flesh winning the race, gaining the victory over my spirit.
It had become all too familiar—my flesh winning the race, gaining the victory over my spirit.
Another crushing defeat. Would I ever be the winner?
Was it a dream? A vision? A warning? Maybe it was the Holy Spirit’s way of showing me how weak my spiritual muscles had become—undernourished, undisciplined, and unused.
Faces flashed through my mind—people I could easily gain the advantage over—people weighted down with physical, mental, and emotional baggage; some not even sure which way to run.
'No, child,' the Holy Spirit whispered to me. 'You don’t compare or compete with others. You only compete against yourself.' True victory in Christ does not come at the expense of someone else.
To be a winner in every sense of the word means going the distance and gaining the victory myself. To win over others still makes me a loser when I fail to conquer my own fears, faults, and weaknesses.
As long as we live, we will be in a battle. We war against the principalities and powers of darkness. Our flesh wars against our spirit.
The great news is this: God has given us everything we need to win the battle and cross the finish line victoriously.
The great news is this: God has given us everything we need to win the battle and cross the finish line victoriously.
Spiritual muscle and endurance for the race is built on intimate time with the Father and regular, healthy meals from His Word. The Holy Spirit is our personal trainer and He knows exactly how to prepare us for whatever lies ahead.
"So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us." Hebrews 12:1 TEV
Are you ready to start training? Go ahead . . . focus on the prize, look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and you will be a winner every time."
Photo courtesy of microsoft.com free image gallery.
Andrea Merrell lives in the upstate of South Carolina and is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life.She is a staff writer and Associate Editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us, and Associate Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
Her work has been published in Spirit & Heart: A Devotional Journey, Faith & Finances: In God We Trust, Faith & Family, PEN Points, The Write Life, and Extraordinary Answers to Prayer.
Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!Used by permission by www.christiandevotions.us
Today’s
treasure truth #12: If you are “born again”, you are a daughter [son] of God. Rom. 8:14
Our
thought for today: We can delight in the process of enduring difficult times, beacause of knowing Christ is with us.
{I will not longer be posting a second post on Saturdays.}
Tomorrow’s post: Take His Hand Linda Merrell{I will not longer be posting a second post on Saturdays.}
Monday's post: Burning the Implements of Sin Pocket Devotions
Samples of Jean's crafts
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So You Plan to Marry a Man A devotional book for women contemplating marriage and looking for godly advice.
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