The Race Marked Out For Us

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!


Last week, my youth group and I went to Mississippi for MFUGE, a mission training camp.  A day at MFUGE consisted of: 
Breakfast,
Quiet Time,
AM show (worship),
Site (we went to different parts of Jackson, MS to do mission work),  
Hang Time,
Dinner,
Worship Rally,
Church Group Devotionals, 
Night Life, and
Lights Out


The days were busy, but they were amazing.  At site, we were able to see the hand of God working in the children we were working with.  Also, the Worship Rallies were spectacular.  On Friday night, The Holy Spirit was moving so intensly all over the auditorium, that campers all over were sobbing with conviction and  wave after wave of applause and praise for our Lord resounded after the last song!  Had it not been for the timed schedule we had, I'm sure we would have praised the Lord well after midnight.  
But the most amazing thing that happened Friday night was the movement of the Holy Spirit.  Four girls in our youth group broke into tears because of the conviction in their hearts.  Two of those girls joined our Family and one rededicated her life to our Lord and Savior! I also rededicated my life to Him.


Our church host caught up to us during our church group devo, and he welcomed our new sisters into the Family of God.  He also read Hebrews 12:1-2


 "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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."



Not only was this the passage the camp pastor preached from the night before, this is a beautiful exhortation to believers.  I put the part that stood out to me in bold, because this is what the Spirit used to plainly show me how distant I had become from God.  You see, I had gotten entangled in sin, but I finally let Jesus set me free once more and take His place as the Lord of my life.
And this passage tells us how to do so.  We have to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, as Paul says.  We have to be intentional and perseverant, and we have to fix our eyes on Jesus.  By doing so, we begin to pursue Him just like He pursues us.  We pursue what we desire. So, when we line our desires with God's, we begin the beautiful relationship He wants with us.


This morning I made my decision public, after our new sisters were baptized!  I also decided to make a blog and share what I'm about and what happens in my life. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.  My church and friends will keep me accountable. I will avoid the sin that so easily entangles.  I will run the race marked out for us.  I will fix my eyes on Jesus.  


I ask you to join me, to be a part of my life, and to pray for me.


Let us run the race marked out for us.