"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
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2
NIV)
The Beijing Olympics will soon be here. I was doing some reading the
other day and came across this fact about the Olympics. In the Greek
Olympic Games of old, a unique race was run. The winner was not the
runner who finished first — it was the runner who finished with his
torch still lit!
There are times in our lives when we feel we just can't continue the
race of life. These are precisely the times when Satan likes to
strike and assault us to the point of breaking. He torments us by
saying, "You'll never make it to the finish line, you may as well
just quit now." This is the time when we most need to cling onto
God's promises.
The Lord will soon reward our diligence for all our suffering here in
this world. Paul said, "Let us not grow weary in well doing for in
due season we shall reap if we do not faint".
Let's allow God's wonderful promises to strengthen and comfort us in
each circumstance so that we can run the race — not to finish first,
but to run together, side by side — the flame of our torch reaching
the finish line blazing brightly with fire for Him!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denny Dowd lives in Pennsylvania with her cat, Shamrock. Denny is a
social worker and she enjoys writing, reading, and volunteering.
Denny is the world's biggest Notre Dame Football fan. Denny lives
with Chronic Inflammatory Demylineating Polyneuropathy and cancer and
has strong faith that God will see her through even the most
difficult of days.
Hi Denny,
I appreciate all the time you take to do the devotionals. I am a Bible study teacher and would love to use the story about the Olympic race where the winner is the one with the torch still lit. I have searched everywhere on the web and can't find it. Is it something you can send to me or direct me to? Thank you. I pray your difficult days are few. Joy
Posted by: Joy Covell | August 09, 2008 at 10:49 PM