Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Did you get a chance to read yesterday’s post, the Story behind the Song? It was Matthew West’s song, “The Motions,” and as it states at the beginning of the Official Music video, “We all face trials. Matthew’s story is proof that God is at work even in our weakest moments.”

Everyone has something going on, and too often, you can’t seem to catch your breath before something else hits. While the most tempting thing to do is beg God to make it all go away, and there’s nothing wrong with that, I encourage you to also ask Him to help you learn all you can from what is going on. 

Now, let’s shift gears for a minute and think about what God has put in front of you to do in the midst of all that may be going on. Everyone has a purpose God created them with. He gave each of us different gifts and talents; we are not built or created to do the “same thing, the same way.” For example, I was listening to a Podcast the other day, and one of the guests was a retired professional boxer, and while most of us wouldn’t think of boxing as a “calling,” it was his. There are a lot of Christian athletes God has placed wherever He chooses, so they could use that platform for Him. We each have a platform, whether it seems large or small, that is not what matters; how we use it for Him is all that matters at the end of the day. That boxer spoke of his faith and how it helped him overcome fear and doubt both in and out of the ring, and one of the things he said really stood out, which applies to all of us and whatever it may be God has put in front of us to do. This should be our mindset when we serve God, as a teacher, trucker, athlete, Mom, Dad, Grandparent, missionary, cosmetologist, farmer, author, radio personality, janitor…. Whatever it is, here’s what he said, “Your mind has to be made up before you leave that locker room that I’m not going to be broken. I will not lose tonight. Because a made-up mind is a hard thing to break!” We must set our minds to run the race God has set before us, and with everything the enemy tries to do to distract, discourage, or defeat us, it is imperative to set our minds. As Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

So, my challenge for each of us today is:  Let’s not just “go through the motions”, because think for a moment, what kind of a difference could we make if we all set our minds to give “it” everything we’ve got!