“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 his shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ( Hebrew 12:1&2)

Prior to giving my life over to Christ I have to admit I was not sure what race I was running mine or was I conforming to what others wanted me to do. It is hard when one is on the journey to discovering self to know exactly which race to run because, there are always so many things pulling at you. You will discover in your life, if you haven’t already, that there are many bids from outsiders rallying to take over your time and life if you don’t watch it.In the beginning of your life it is parents who seem to have the strongest agenda for your future ,and if you have siblings there is also a role you learn to play for them as well too. What you will observe is as the years demand more of you so will your spouse, your close friends and your career. What I did extract from this , life lesson, is how to toughen up, and put my elephant skin on when setting up boundaries for myself. In short, in regards to people, I had to learn how to say, ” no!” as the many demands were being placed on my life, and on my time, but I had to speculate as to how does one , with all these demands on them, run the race marked out for themselves if they are spending so much time running errands for others?

I adore this scripture because as a follower of Jesus Christ ,whom I love and serve, it pleases me to know that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Isn’t that beautiful? In the Old Testament when Yahweh Shammah came to dwell with the Israelite’s in the Holy of Holies, known as the mercy seat, God led the people in a cloud, by day, and by night God led them in the form of a blazing fire. Beloved, know  when you look to the skies that there are Saints, and witnesses that have run the race before you rooting you on from the clouds. Moses, Esther, Paul from Tarsus, Peter, Mary , Abraham and Hannah are all cheering from the heavens wanting to strengthen and encourage you as you run towards the finish line of your purpose and your destiny. There are beautiful things to behold in the skies, my friend, so be encouraged in the strength of the Lord if your situation appears bleak for there are those that have endured much on the road from biblical past so that they can exhort those, following Christ, on the road in the future.

So, let us all be strong, in the Lord, and throw off anything that hinders or any sin that can easily entangle itself in our lives on  a daily basis. Perhaps there are many of you who were raised in environments where you didn’t witness the gospel or have it spoken into your life like others did, and therefore you might not be surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, but naysayers, doubters and deniers who will do anything to hinder you from your calling and destiny. Shake them out of your life, and have the strength, through Holy Spirit, to get rid of anything that would dare to stop, delay or discourage you from acquiring all that God has for your life. Stand up, in the name of Jesus, and stand your ground against anyone trying to use you, exploit you, demean you or treat you less than who God made you to be. Don’t let their evil desires for your life become the desires for your life, but muster the power, and authority given to you as a heir to the throne power from Christ himself to stand that devil back, and say ,” I have had enough, and I will endure you no longer. Get out of my life!”

Therefore , after you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and you allow Holy Spirit to take up residence in your body, with all you have left, run towards Christ, and don’t look back! Embrace your new identity in Him as you run towards your new life while learning to serving him. Don’t be fooled, but embrace the process, guidance, and provision he has for your life. Beloved his arms are stretched out to you, arms that will never turn you away. Run my friend the race marked out for you a race which was prepared, just for you, before the beginning of time, by the Triune God; a God that knows the plans he has for you ,declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Know when you seek his face he will protect you against the boulders, rocks, bats, and clubs you will encounter on the rough terrain, agents that are designed to test you , delay you, and hold you back while you run towards the finish line. Beloved know that perseverance must also finish its race, inside you, so that you will be mature, complete ,and lacking in nothing. If you endure until the end you will be a strong athlete for Christ.Learn to be steadfast in the Lord for when adversity dares to strike your foot it is those, that believe, and those that dwell in the shelter of the Most High who will also rest in the shadow of the Almighty. God will save you from the Fowler’s snare, and from the deadly pestilence on your race to victory, and He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.

So we must fix our eyes on Jesus the ,beautiful, author and finisher of our faith, and while we run we must know, and therefore believe, that the one who brought us to this race will also be the one who will bring us through the race…in one piece! And when we are done, we will know that the pain on the road was worth it… why? Because of the joy set before us, it is through all the pain, the tears, and the agony, during the race, what helps us keep going is the joy of what is to come the victory, and promises to all who are heirs of the One who died for us! It is when we are done that we too , like Christ, will be able to sit down to rest and enjoy the fruit of our labor. Oh won’t you run with me? Not to compete, but to encourage and comfort one another on the road to victory. I can’t wait to see you…

With All my Love!

DCL Ministries