“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
The site runningstate.com shares what is the #1 rule for finishing a race strong:
“You trained hard, felt great at the start—and still crashed in the final miles. Frustrating? Absolutely. But avoidable. There’s one simple rule that can dramatically change how you finish a race. It’s not flashy, but it works.
The #1 Rule: Run the first third of the race slower than you want to. That’s it. The golden rule. The deceptively hard, endlessly effective key to a strong finish. Most runners know the basics: don’t start too fast. But "slower than you want to" is different.
It's not just about following a pace plan. You should deliberately resist your instincts when your legs feel amazing and your heart rate is purring. You should ignore the person next to you who’s running just a bit too fast. You should play the long game.”
It’s not flashy, but it works.
Resist your instincts and run the first 3rd slower than you want to.
Ignore the person next to you who’s running faster and play the long game.
Runners struggle to finish because of an inward battle between the flesh and the mind.
This spiritual race is not about who is faster or better, it’s about your own commitment. When you look at a racetrack, there are runners located at various points of the track. Everyone is at a different level of their race. That works with us in the church too.
This spiritual race is not about speed or who can do it faster or better. It’s never about that. It’s about consistency and endurance. It’s about staying connected to the Finisher.
Today, remind yourself that in order to complete this spiritual race, you need to trust the Finisher and stay close to His side. Jesus will guide you through each stage and at the finished line, there will be a crown of righteousness waiting for you.
