I hoped you enjoyed the song above to help encourage your walk with God. Back in April, I attended a youth conference. Actually this topic is perfect for adult believers too. Ron Luce, the guest speaker said, "Patience and endurance is needed to follow God’s will."
- May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
- ~Colossians 1:11-12
- Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- ~Romans 5:2-5
Endurance is needed to finish your race.
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation 3:10).
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
Growing + learning + focus on God
= stronger relationship with Jesus
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation 3:10).
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
Growing + learning + focus on God
= stronger relationship with Jesus
Marathon:
Why did I mention about a marathon and preparation?
Having a strong faith, it requires discipline. The more you train, the stronger your faith is. How is training for a marathon like having a strong faith?
· Are you developing your spiritual muscles?
· Are you putting God first before everything else?
· It’s hard to withhold one’s desires to obey and follow God’s will in your life. This requires the next step to get your spiritual muscles strong.
2.Spiritual Discipline requires:
· Studying God’s word (the Bible) regularly
· Meditate on God’s word daily
· Worship the Lord daily
· Be in prayer often
In Romans 12:12: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
Cardio exercises the heart. The more you run, your muscles need oxygen. With practice, your body expands for oxygen so you can run longer. So pay attention to the Holy Spirit for he lives you the desire to chase after Jesus and encourages one to continue one’s faith.
The more you spend with God, the more you hunger for God so you expand more room for Jesus. It’s the toxins and wastes that block your faith from growing. The hurt, anger or heartbreak are toxins in your life. One must expel those toxins. An example prayer is: “God search me please. Is there any wicked way in me? Is there anything that prevents me to have intimacy with you? Search me, O God.” Read Psalm 139.
3. Nutrition Training:
Before and during the race, you need proper nutrition. Having the right amount of calories and good nutrition in the race keeps you alive during the race.
Did you stop feeding your spiritual needs? When you stop caring for your faith and you get weaker so you lose your way.
What is your spiritual diet?
What are your bad influences (the junk in your life)? Junk prevents one to stay healthy.
Do you need to feed more healthy choices?
Are there bad things to weed out of your life?
Are there relationships that need to stop? Bad relationships stop you from wanting a good relationship with God.
4. Mental Training
Your mind is powerful. When you dwell on bad things, it leads to negativity and it weakens one’s faith.
How do you see yourself as a Christian?
Are you following Jesus with all you have?
Are you turning away from bad peer pressure?
Are you staying pure? Will you say, “I’ll be the best spouse when I get married in my adulthood”?
Am I going to be a stronger follower of Christ?
Will my faith help me be the wife/husband I need to be one day?
You need preparation to finish the race.
Reflection/Practical Next Steps
What are you going to do to be strong in your faith?
What are my goals/plans to have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ?
How can I best prioritize God to be in the first spot?
What are my next steps?
Pick one or two areas to focus on:
These goals are practical ways to keep you strong in your faith and grow in the Lord. For example, spend fifteen minutes in God’s word and ten minutes of uninterrupted prayer daily.
- To prepare to strengthen muscles
- Need to train
- Be able to do the race
- No pain, no gain
Why did I mention about a marathon and preparation?
Having a strong faith, it requires discipline. The more you train, the stronger your faith is. How is training for a marathon like having a strong faith?
- Spiritual Muscles Training
· Are you developing your spiritual muscles?
· Are you putting God first before everything else?
· It’s hard to withhold one’s desires to obey and follow God’s will in your life. This requires the next step to get your spiritual muscles strong.
2.Spiritual Discipline requires:
· Studying God’s word (the Bible) regularly
· Meditate on God’s word daily
· Worship the Lord daily
· Be in prayer often
In Romans 12:12: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
Cardio exercises the heart. The more you run, your muscles need oxygen. With practice, your body expands for oxygen so you can run longer. So pay attention to the Holy Spirit for he lives you the desire to chase after Jesus and encourages one to continue one’s faith.
The more you spend with God, the more you hunger for God so you expand more room for Jesus. It’s the toxins and wastes that block your faith from growing. The hurt, anger or heartbreak are toxins in your life. One must expel those toxins. An example prayer is: “God search me please. Is there any wicked way in me? Is there anything that prevents me to have intimacy with you? Search me, O God.” Read Psalm 139.
3. Nutrition Training:
Before and during the race, you need proper nutrition. Having the right amount of calories and good nutrition in the race keeps you alive during the race.
Did you stop feeding your spiritual needs? When you stop caring for your faith and you get weaker so you lose your way.
What is your spiritual diet?
What are your bad influences (the junk in your life)? Junk prevents one to stay healthy.
Do you need to feed more healthy choices?
Are there bad things to weed out of your life?
Are there relationships that need to stop? Bad relationships stop you from wanting a good relationship with God.
4. Mental Training
Your mind is powerful. When you dwell on bad things, it leads to negativity and it weakens one’s faith.
How do you see yourself as a Christian?
Are you following Jesus with all you have?
Are you turning away from bad peer pressure?
Are you staying pure? Will you say, “I’ll be the best spouse when I get married in my adulthood”?
Am I going to be a stronger follower of Christ?
Will my faith help me be the wife/husband I need to be one day?
You need preparation to finish the race.
Reflection/Practical Next Steps
What are you going to do to be strong in your faith?
What are my goals/plans to have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ?
How can I best prioritize God to be in the first spot?
What are my next steps?
Pick one or two areas to focus on:
- Mental (mind)
- Cardio (heart)
- Nutrition (food for spiritual growth)
- Spiritual Discipleship
These goals are practical ways to keep you strong in your faith and grow in the Lord. For example, spend fifteen minutes in God’s word and ten minutes of uninterrupted prayer daily.