Where are you today? What are your circumstances? How will you face tomorrow? Trusting in the God, Who loves you unconditionally? Or fearing your circumstances?

In the 14^th century B.C., God gave these words to the sons of Israel through His prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 41:¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Does God’s will matter to you?

Does God being with you matter to you?

Does the I AM being God matter to you?

Definitions of what God wants us not to do

Fear  distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Dismay = sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment. sudden disillusionment.

 What do these words matter to you?

Definitions of what God promises you and me

Help = to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength

Strengthen = to make stronger

Uphold = to support or defend, as against opposition or criticism: to keep up or keep from sinking; support: to lift upward; raise:

Righteousness = the quality or state of being just or rightful:

What do these words matter to you?

Does it matter to you that God’s will is to help you?

Does it matter to you that God’s will is to strengthen you?

Does it matter to you that God’s will is to uphold you with the right hand of Hs righteousness?

In the 7^th century B.C., God gave these words to the sons of Israel through His prophet Jeremiah.

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. ¹²Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 33:³ Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Does God’s will matter to you?

Yes, I realize these scriptures were addressed to the Jews but they reveal more about Who God is and therefore are relevant to you and me.

More about Who God is written in the 1^st century A.D.

2 Corinthians 12:⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Romans 14:⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

1 John 2:¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hebrews 13:⁵ 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. ⁶So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

1 Corinthians 8:⁵ For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) ⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1 Corinthians 10:¹¹ Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. ¹²Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. ¹³There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 John 5:²⁰ And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

What do these words matter to you?

Our challenge – Hebrews 12: ¹Wherefore 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. . ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds

Our focus -Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti