Push Forward

My favorite part of a cross country race is before the race even starts. The part when the girls on my team are all in a huddle with our arms linked together and we pray together. I usually head up this prayer and it almost always goes the same way...

"God we thank you for blessing us with the ability to run. Remind us that even when we want to quit You have given us the strenght to push forward. And God let us remember that we race for the glory of You. In Your Name, Amen." 

Step up to the line. On your mark. Get set. Gun. Stride out. Settle in. Get a pace. Keep sights on the girl ahead. Pass her. Next girl. 

This is my mindset for the first half of the race and then the hurt starts, the doubt sets in. I have officially hit "the wall". At this point in the race, I think it's better to quit than keep going. 

Voices tell me, "It'll hurt less if you stop". "No one else will pass you if you quit now". "You're tired" "Give up" 

But among these voices...one says, "You are not tired. I'm right here with you. Push forward...." 

And so I push forward, push forward, push forward...

I believe that at times in our walk with Christ (at least in my own), we hit "the wall". We get tired...tired of being pushed around, tired of politics, tired of never getting anywhere, and tired of wondering where God is in times of struggle. We hear the voices of the devil tempting us to sin and turn our hearts from God.

In all the voices the devil puts in your head, listen for the one that is telling you..."You are not tired. I'm right here with you. Push forward...." Listen for that voice and let it give you the strength to finish the race with a new spark. Remember that you are running the race for the glory of God, remember that it is not for the glory of yourself and finish the race even faster and stronger than you started...

push forward, push forward, push forward...