Perseverance

​The only marathon I’ve ever run was the San Diego Marathon.  I trained hard and enjoyed running along the coastline.  I determined to run at a 7:00 minute/mile pace.  I was psyched on the day of the race to meet my goal of completing the 26+ mile race in under 3 hours.

I started off fast, too fast.  Somehow I became part of a pack of runners racing at a 6:45/mile clip.  It felt good to run with these guys, at least for 18 miles.  Then I realized there was no way I could continue the pace for eight more long miles.  So I slowly faded back until eventually I ran alone.  This was made even more difficult by the realization that too much early speed had left me with no reserve to draw upon.  By the last mile I was walking, cramping up, in pain and in trouble. But one thing kept me going.  My sister ran her marathon in 3 hours and 9 minutes.  There was no way I was going to let her beat me.  So in agony and on the fumes of male-pride, somehow I staggered across the finish line in 3 hours and 8 minutes!

Life is like a marathon.  There are times we run euphoric (my apologies to those of you who hate running).  There are times when the rain and wind whips against us and we wonder why we ever bothered. But always in our mind should be the realization that we are not running alone.  Our Lord is with us and promises to bring us safely to the finish line when He will change us in a twinkling of an eye!  Our worn bodies will be replaced!  Sin will be a thing of the past.  Life will be perfect.  We must persevere.  The finish is not only out of this world, it is eternally rewarding!
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Forward!  Move ahead today through each obstacle and challenge you face knowing that as you move in faith, trusting God, He is with you.  God delights in our faith.  Through Him we overcome—a through that is based on our willingness to walk or run amidst obstacles as we trust Him to fortify us in His awe-inspiring love. Don’t quit—keep after it!   
 
Meditation
Romans 8:37-39--No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
 
Inspiration
God does not give us overcoming life; He gives us life as we overcome . . . If we will do the overcoming, we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives life immediately.—Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest
 
©1997 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)