You and I are in a race. It’s a marathon not a sprint. It began when you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and will end when you cross the finish line into His physical presence. The race is in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. No man can see God face-to-face. You have an enemy who uses lies and wiles in an attempt to steal your testimony, destroy your witness, eliminate you from the race and take many others down with you.

What does Jesus Christ, our Master Life Coach say?

You are uniquely designed and created-Psalms 139:
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Jesus has a good plan for your life-Jeremiah 29:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jesus has a purpose for your life-Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

Jesus runs the race with you-Hebrews 13:5
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Jesus tends to your needs-Psalms 23
1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Jesus understands- Hebrews 4:
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus forgives your wrong choices-1 John 1:
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus can supply all your needs
2 Corinthians 9:
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Philippians 4:
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul’s advice

1 Corinthians 9:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Hebrews 12:
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Press on-Dan Burgess

When the valley is deep-When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary- When we stumble and fall
When the choices are hard-When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources -When we’ve given our all

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize clear before our eyes We find the strength to press on

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize clear before our eyes We find the strength to press on
We find the strength to press on, to press on

Questions for Reflection
1) What word best describes your circumstance today?
2) Which is the strongest emotion you are feeling today?
3) How do your circumstances and your strongest emotion impact your race today?
Tell it to Jesus

Hebrews 12:
1 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,
2 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.

Let us run with patience the race he has set before us, looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti