Hebrews 12:1 – Lisa Preuett~Rest Stop for the Soul

The Crowd at the Finish Line

June 12, 2015Lisa Preuett

Hebrews 12:1 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.

Running on empty, the race had completely drained me. Sweat pouring down my face, I wondered if I’d made a mistake. Maybe I wasn’t cut out to run this race. I’d trained properly, yet it sure didn’t feel that way now. The motivation I had in the beginning, slowly diminished with each mile of the race. Did it really matter if I finished? Would anyone even notice?

The last leg of the race was ahead, just around the corner. Boisterous shouts erupted in the air. Shrieking whistles pierced my ears. Thunderous clapping almost shook the pavement. The crowd ushered us along with jubilant applause. All of a sudden I felt rejuvenated! A sense of accomplishment welled up inside of me. The hard work was worth the excitement that washed over me. The crowd surrounded me on both sides as I crossed the finish line. Yes! I’d finally made it!

In Hebrews 12, we are told about a cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. Although they aren’t visible to us, they are ever-present in the spiritual realm. In the previous chapter—often called the hall of faith—we read about these heroes of the past, examples who inspire us today. Those who believed and hoped, even though they didn’t get to see Jesus while they lived out their days on earth. The Greek meaning for the word witnesses is testifiers. Each one mentioned in the passage bears testimony to the power of faith and God’s faithfulness. God used them to lay the foundation we stand on today. They persevered until the very end. They ran their races well and were ushered into the presence of God, their redemption complete.

Imagine Abraham, Jacob and Isaac, the patriarchs of our faith, cheering us on! Imagine Moses and Joshua urging us to stay strong and courageous on our journey of faith. What about Joseph? Think of all the turmoil he endured, yet he stayed focused on God’s promises. Can you envision him walking on the sideline of your race giving you a high-five? What would he say?

Hang in there! Don’t stop. Keep going. Your pain will be worth it when you reach the finish line.

Then there’s Rahab. A runner we’d never expect to be mentioned in this famous race of faith. Some would say she wasn’t even worthy to sign up for the race to begin with. But her name in this passage bears testimony to the boundless grace of God. The kind of grace that redeems and restores any sinner who surrenders to Him. What would she say if she could see us struggling to take another step in our race?

He is for you. He loves you. Lean on him. You’re going to make it!

Just as we runners can grow weary along a difficult race course, it’s easy to lose our motivation at times in life. We start out with such powerful zeal. We think nothing could ever stop us. But then something happens, slowing us down. Our excitement fizzles out and we lose our focus. We wonder what our purpose really is. Does our life matter? The truth is, it does matter! And there are others who have gone before us. Others who have persevered. Others who have fought the good fight of faith.

One day we will have the opportunity to speak to those listed in the book of Hebrews. Although from different generations, we will all celebrate together. Our common thread will be that Jesus enabled us to persevere. One step at a time.

READY? Identify an area of your life where you’ve lost motivation or feel a lack of purpose. What do you need to get back on track? What does your temporary setback look like through the lens of eternity? Close your eyes and imagine those from the hall of faith giving you high fives!

GET SET. Read Hebrews 11:4-40

GO! Dear God, I confess that many times I feel weary and want to quit. I lose my motivation. My purpose isn’t clear. Please help me to regain clarity and to keep going. Help me remember those who have gone before me. May their inspiration and example be a reminder that just as you were with them, you are with me now. Amen

Blessings to you!

Lisa Preuett

What’s Your Pace?

February 17, 2015August 23, 2015Lisa Preuett

Hebrews 12:1. “…Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

One of the phrases you’ll frequently hear among fellow runners in conversation is this: “What’s your pace?” It’s also a question most registration forms require an answer to when signing up for a half or full marathon. Deep down we probably know the answer to that question, yet sometimes we may be tempted to alter this figure so as to appear faster. Some runners are fast and can run like the wind no matter what the distance. But for me, long distance running is all about endurance. Speed is not a priority.

Could I run faster at the start? Absolutely!

Could I run at that pace throughout the entire race? Absolutely NOT!

If I started off running with all my might, I’d be sick to my stomach for the rest of the race. So I pace myself, trying to remember that it doesn’t matter if people are passing me quickly. It doesn’t matter who is in front of me. It doesn’t matter if someone else crosses the finish line before I do. My determination is focused on finishing the race. At my own unique pace.

Even if you don’t consider yourself an elite runner, as a follower of Christ you are in a race. Not a physical race, but a spiritual race. Maybe you’ve never thought of your life as a race, but it really is. Our goal is Jesus. We should desire to finish well and have Him say to us “Welcome home good and faithful servant.”

But if I compare myself to someone else’s pace, I’ll crash and burn if I try to keep up with them. Trying to keep up with your friend who’s further ahead in their life’s journey would be like a brand new runner trying to keep up with a veteran marathoner. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet we often try to keep up with others to achieve a certain image. Or perhaps we feel unrealistic pressure from others to keep up with them. Sometimes pride drives us to run someone else’s pace. Or maybe it’s fear of walking a leg of the race alone. Whatever the motive is, it’s not good if it isn’t where God wants us. We are designed to live this life at the unique pace God calls us to. This life is definitely not a quick sprint, but a marathon with lots of twists and turns. Lots of valleys and hills. And sometimes a lot of flat land in between.

READY? Are you in a season where things are rough? Are you at the start line of a new adventure God is calling you to? Or maybe you feel as if you’re plugging along slowly in a desert land with no oasis in sight. Ask God to show you where you’re running ahead too quickly or not quickly enough. Wherever you may be, pace yourself.

GET SET. Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit.”

GO! Dear God, I confess that sometimes I try to run my race of faith at a pace you simply did not design me for. Forgive me for running in my own power instead of relying on the Holy Spirit. Help me surrender completely to the purpose you created me for as I run with endurance each step of the way. Amen

Blessings to you!

Lisa Preuett

http://www.reststopforthesoul.com

HURLING OFF THE HINDRANCES

February 10, 2015Lisa Preuett

Hebrews 12:1 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”

It’s race day! A cold breeze gushes through the crowd. Runners quickly jog in place to stay warm. You can see your breath in the coolness of the air. Shivering, you count down the minutes until start time. Your outer layer will be discarded later, but for now it’s keeping you warm before the race. The race finally begins and you’re content with this outer layer. It fits snugly around you, giving immediate warmth and comfort. But then something happens. Your body thaws out, gradually heating up to a full sweat. This shirt you earlier couldn’t do without feels cumbersome, causing you much distress. You’re ready to throw it off. You literally peel it off and toss it, knowing you’ll never see it again. But at this point you don’t care because you can run with more ease and freedom. Getting rid of the sweat shirt lightens your load. As you continue running along the race course, you notice a mass of shirts and jackets strewn across both edges of the road. You realize you’re among other runners who know this truth: you can’t run efficiently unless you throw off the things that weigh you down.

Should we not have this same attitude with our sins? The hindrances entangling us—weighing us down. They utterly leave us burdened and miserable. But we often convince ourselves we’re okay with them. We think they’ll keep us comfortable, snug and protected from the cold, distant world. But we can only go so far before we start to realize we’re getting uncomfortable. Our soul is miserable with this added weight. We feel burdened with anguish. Feelings of defeat hinder us from walking in victory.

The verse in Hebrews tells us to literally throw off our sins. A runner who’s fallen into her perfect stride isn’t going to slow down, prance over to the side of the road and neatly lay her old sweat shirt down. Of course not! Just when she notices the change in her body temperature, and feels the heat inside, she knows it’s time. She quickly peels off the cumbersome sweat shirt, tugging furiously to get it over her head. And with all her might she’ll fling it as far away from her as possible.

That, my dear friend, is what we are called to do with sin. Just when we recognize the change in our thoughts. The change in our heart. The change in our attitude. We detect something isn’t right. We feel miserable. Maybe it’s selfish thoughts. Perhaps it’s a prideful action, hurting our loved ones. Or maybe we lash out with angry words to defend our way of doing things. Then we feel weighed down with guilt we weren’t meant to carry. Anguish rises up inside. When we recognize this, that’s when we grab the ugly thing it really is and strip it off. We hurl it out of sight and into the forgiving arms of Jesus. He’s strong enough to catch those sins we’ve thrown at Him along our path. He has the power to forgive and redeem because of what he did on the cross. And then He does something incredible; he hurls our forgiven sins completely away from us…never to be seen again.

READY? What are you allowing to hinder your walk with Jesus? Are you clinging tightly to a certain sin? Are you ready to call it what it is and throw it off? Ask God to show you what is weighing you down so you can cast it off and run your race in victory.

GET SET. Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west He has removed our sins from us.”

GO! Lord Jesus, I come to you humbly and ask you to show me the sins I’m allowing to weigh me down. Help me acknowledge them before you. I confess them now and ask your forgiveness. Soften my heart so I can be more sensitive to the sins that grieve your heart. Help me let go of anything that keeps me from walking in victory. Amen.