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Running For His Glory

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: Not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run such a way that you may obtain it.” Matthew 22:14 sheds light on these verses as it states that, “Many are called but few are chosen.” Many are called to know Christ but few will choose the narrow path to follow HIm. The Christian life is difficult and being disciplined in the Lord can oftentimes give people a twisted perspective regarding who He really is. The Bible to some can seem like a book of rules, as it once did to me. But, the Bible is so much more than that, it is a love letter from the Lord to His people which He loves so dearly. So, then, why are we so reluctant in reading it? I know I was reluctant because I was through with reading seemingly empty words that shed no light on my life. The Lord, I thought, was not speaking to me and I decided that it would be wiser to not indulge in His word than to allow my frustration to overtake me. Had I stopped to recap, I would have realized that it was me. The lid on my heart was becoming tighter and tighter and I stopped listening for His still small voice. “Be still and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10 tells us. Relationships require the effort of two people, one to talk and one to listen. How can we receive if we do not first listen? We can’t. We must listen to receive which is something that I had stopped doing. I stopped competing for the prize of Jesus Christ and I was on a continuous downhill slope. I was in desperate need of falling on my knees in prayer and being intentional in asking Him to rid me of the lid that I had willingly tightened on my heart so that I could receive the Good News. So that I could to run my race not merely to obtain a gold metal or recognition for this world but for His glory.

Application
This week, I will be intentional with my prayer, seeking the Lord for His words.

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