Running with God

I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

So… I ran a 5k last Saturday. It was not easy. I kept thinking just make it to the finish line. It will feel great to finish. You can do it! I kept my eye on the prize, the prize of finishing the race. It didn’t matter that I was nowhere near first place. I just wanted to finish this race.

God wants us to finish His race and fortunately He equips us fully for His race. His race is no 5k. His race will take us a lifetime to finish. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us strength. He gave us His only son to wash away our sins thus giving us an automatic blue ribbon. But to win the grand prize, we must walk with Jesus and “press on toward the goal.” He is the only way to the finish line, AKA Heaven!

Let’s read from Philippians, Chapter 3, verses 12-21 using THE MESSAGE.

Focused on the Goal
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17-19Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

What a cool scripture! Do any of us have it all together? But are we on our way to good health? Of course we are! We are on this journey with our Savior and Master and Friend. Jesus will “transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own.”

We have to “let go and let God.” We have to let Him and let the Holy Spirit live in a healthy temple. God wants that of us. So when you are thinking about staying put on the couch or eating that extra slice of cake, just remember this. “Keep focused on that goal. Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.”

Just think if we were to exercise 30 minutes a day, write down what we eat, have a quiet time with God and have a stockpile of scripture memorized, oh, how our health would improve!

Our physical health would benefit greatly from the exercise. Science Daily says “Moderately strenuous exercise, about 30 minutes a day, can lead to enormous benefits in terms of your mood, health, weight and the ability to live an independent and fulfilling life.” The Mayo Clinic found that 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week can; lower your blood pressure, improve cholesterol, prevent or manage type 2 Diabetes, manage weight, prevent osteoporosis, prevent cancer, maintain mental well-being and increase energy and stamina. Sounds good, huh?

If we write down what we eat, we will have more success with weight loss than those that don’t. Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research found that keeping a food diary is one of the most important things you can do to lose weight. Kaiser’s participants who wrote down what they ate lost two times as much weight as the participants who didn’t write their meals down. Hmmmm….speaks volumes.

And do we really need to talk about the benefits of a quiet time with God? Well, a friendly reminder never hurt anyone…We have to study God to know Him. If we are more mindful of God, He will become more visible to our blindfolded eyes. J. I. Packer writes, “The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know God. Disregard the study of God and you sentence yourself to stumble through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” By reading and studying God’s word, I find comfort, joy and clarity. I also am drawn closer to this man who died for me! I can thank Him daily for what He did for me and for all of us.

And what about these Bible verses we are to remember? I must say it’s nice to have the thought, “I press on toward the goal which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,” come to mind than a thought like, “I’ll never be able to do this.” It makes me remember the real purpose of this life and if by trying to lose weight is God’s way of keeping me close…then Lord, here I am. Let’s run this race together.

Let us pray.

Dear God,

You are so amazing. You sent your only son to die for us so that we may win the prize of living in Heaven with you and your son. Help us to be patient as we press on toward this goal.

Help us to be patient as we continue on our journey to good health. Keep us strong and give us comfort when we stumble. We come to you today with new health goals and we need your help.

Thank you, God, for giving us life and thank you for your Holy Spirit who is here to guide us along the way until we are one day united with you in Heaven.

Amen.