Racing Stripes

Growing up on the YMCA swim team meant swim meets every weekend and hundreds of bored kids waiting for their next heat. So we entertained ourselves… We gave ourselves racing stripes, writing “Eat My Wake” and other cheers on our legs with black magic marker.  Racing stripes were originally applied to race cars to help the driver realign his spun-out car.  During my semester of rest, God gave me several scriptures to realign my focus on Him when my mind felt like it was spinning out of control.  But my two main scriptures or racing stripes were Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and Hebrews 12:1-2, “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

Running is hard work!  My legs would hurt, my feet would ache, my arms would feel tired because I was often pushing one or both girls in our double stroller.  But through it all, I would strap on my racing stripes, keep my “finish line” fixed ever before me in my mind and push through.  Whether I was physically running a route, or just running to be closer to my God, to know my Father in a deeper, more intimate way, my racing stripes kept me focused, and allowed me to “throw off” everything that tried to stop me.

What are some of the things that are trying to stop you from pursuing your Father and His purposes for your life?  Strap on your racing stripes—your promises from Father God—and run hard, straight into His loving embrace!

© Heather Potts 2016

God of the Impossible

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping… ~ Romans 4:18

When do we need hope?  We need it when the fulfilment of a promise isn’t done instantaneously.  We live in a world where meals are cooked within minutes and whole conversations happen within the exchange of just a few text messages.  When we are told to believe, to have faith, to wait and hope for the answer, that doesn’t seem to compute with us.  But waiting is a good discipline to have. 

I remember when Brad and I were learning about the value of budgeting our money and understanding the difference between “needs” and “wants.”  One couple sat us down and said that they needed new sod for their lawn.  They explained that until they could afford to pay cash—they didn’t use credit cards to purchase anything—they were just going to save up for it.  At the time, they tried to convey that we’d appreciate our purchase more when we’d denied ourselves the instant buy and saved up the money to make the purchase.  Honestly, we didn’t believe them until we tried it.  Over time, we began to see not only  how satisfying it was to actually be able to “afford” to pay our bills through proper budgeting/spending habits, but we were able to pay off our debts as well.

Abraham’s promise, however, took several decades to come to pass.  And that’s why this scripture says that even when there was no reason to hope, he kept hoping.  We are hoping for God to do many things in our lives.  But without God, it is impossible for anyone of them to come to pass in our lives.  What are you hoping will come true?  What things has God promised you that are impossible without hope in the One who made the promise?  Spend some time with God today and tell Him how much you need Him and that you trust Him to fulfill His promises, even if they don’t come as instantly as your Happy Meal.

Father God, thank you that all things are possible with you.  Lord, I pray that we would look to you for our answers, our needs, and our desires.  Lord, there are things that we know You have promised to us, and in our waiting, the enemy fights hard to get us to doubt and quit.  I pray that we would be bold and remember that You are the same God who raised Christ from the dead and called things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17)!  Thank you, Father, for being as bold in our lives and calling out promises to be fulfilled from merely dreams and desires.  Father, give us that same bold attitude today and always.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ~ Hebrews 10:23

Are You Tired?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ~ Matthew 11:28 MSG

I heard a couple of my co-workers talking yesterday about how they hate Christians, because they are so fake and, “Have you been to their churches?  It’s so dull and boring and they look miserable.”  I was going to turn around and say something, but then they parted ways and I didn’t get a chance to speak up, but thought about their comments a long time. 

Today’s scripture reminded me of their conversation.  As a church, what are we saying to a hurting and worn out world when we, too, are hurting and worn out all the time?  How do we get refreshed?  From what Jesus is saying, it’s by keeping company with Him and through those times, we’ll learn how to live freely and lightly and well-rested.

Maybe the holidays, with all the hustle and bustle, have left you feeling worn out and tired.  How do you reenergize?  Where do you get the motivation to keep going?  Some will exercise and other will drink coffee or one of those energy drinks.  God wants us to turn to Him as our source of refreshing.  When we walk closely with Him, His energy seems to flow off of Him and cover over us.  If you are tired and weary today, I encourage you to spend intimate time with the Father and let His Words encourage and refresh you.

Father, thank you that you are always available to us when we need you.  Thank you that you don’t get burned out and you’ve never turned us away.  I pray that we would remember to stay close to your side, always abiding in the shelter of your wings, drawing from Your strength to carry us through.  Be with us today and always.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

When Do We Need Perseverance?

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

When do we need perseverance?

 When there’s opposition.

When is there opposition?

Whenever God is about to do something great.

Perseverance is “the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings,” (blueletterbible.com).  That means when God has made us a promise to do something great in our lives, we must stand firm on His Truth, press deeper into His Word, and put on the full armor of God as never before.  When God makes a promise to us the enemy is also aware of it and he will stop at nothing to ensure God’s promises are not fulfilled in our lives.

What does opposition look like?  It’s anything from people’s words and attitudes to mountains of bills to attacks on your home and your health.  Opposition is tailored specifically for you by an enemy who has studied you a long time.  He knows what things still make you tick and what things you’ve already overcome.  Any area you’ve already overcome, he won’t bother you with because the enemy’s purpose is to defeat you as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.

But do not lose heart, because God says, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please…What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do,” (Isaiah 46:10-11).  God is on your side and wants nothing more than for you to succeed and have victory over the opposition you are facing.  And God knows we do and we will face opposition, which is why he prepares us in advance by sending us His Word and surrounding us with believers who will pray us through.  God knows that when we have victory over the opposition, when we persevere and do not give up, the praise and glory He receives is great.

Father God, many of us are facing great opposition today.  But as great as the opposition is, You are greater.  As strong and as hard as the battle, You are mightier.  Lord, Your Word promises that You will not allow the righteous—that’s us—to fall, but You will restore us.  Lord, as we press into You today, reveal to us the Truth or the promise that we need to succeed and overcome the opposition we face today.  Lord, as we read your promises, our faith and excitement grow as we move toward the great victory we will have over this opposition.  Lord, be with us today and reveal at least one new truth to us.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

By Persevering Produce a Crop

“A farmer went out to sow some seed. As he was scattering the seed, some…fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown…The seed is the word of God…The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. ~ Luke 8:5, 7-8, 11, 14-15

A farmer won’t say, “I’m believing for a harvest of corn,” when he’s planted, or sown, nothing.

A farmer won’t say, “I’m praying and believing for a harvest of wheat,” when he’s sown corn.

Farmers believe they’ll harvest what they’ve sown—wheat for wheat, corn for corn—and so should we.  But it doesn’t stop there.  A farmer’s work isn’t done when the seeds have been planted.  Look at what a farmer does:

He prepares the land.

He plants the seed.

He waters the ground.

He removes the weeds.

He chases off predators, such as rabbits, crows, and deer.

He waters the ground.

He protects the future harvest from inclement weather.

He waters the ground.

He removes the weeds.

And when the first buds pop through the dirt, he knows the harvest isn’t ready yet.

He continues to water the crop.

He continues to chase off predators.

He waits for the perfect timing.

He reaps the harvest.

And then he begins again.

I’ve been praying and believing God for some pretty lofty things in my marriage.  They are nothing that I think God can’t or won’t give us, but they are certainly things I know I can’t obtain or achieve on my own.  So I’ve partnered with Christ.  Daily, I make Him the Lord of my life.  I want Him to be the Author of my life’s story and the Master of this vessel’s journey.

I’ve come to realize that the prize, the victory, is not about “obtaining” those things I desire in my marriage, but about “maintaining” and “maturing” them once we get there.  If all we do is “achieve” the desired level and then stop or back off from the hard work we put in to get there, we will quickly lose all that we’ve accomplished.

Yes, that means continued work, but watching the example of the farmer, it should not be a surprise.  If the farmer planted the seed only, would the harvest have sprouted?  If he did all that work, brought the crop to the perfect timing and even reaped a harvest, but then worked no more, would he continue to have food in his field?  The answer to both is no.  And so it is in our marriages.  If we work hard to win the love of our lives—or even win them again—but then stop working at it, will we keep that same level of intimacy, that same joy, that same passion?

Just as the farmer continued in his field, so we must continue in putting God first in our lives, and work into our marriages.  But through God’s empowering grace, when we look and see all that the Spirit has done in our lives when we partner with Him, we will realize we have not worked at all, but have lived a love story.  And as we continue to put forth the effort, we can say to ourselves, “I am not working for naught, but am working toward greater enjoyment and victories in my marriage.”

Lord, I pray for marriages.  I pray that you would anoint our hands for the work you have called us to do. I pray that everything we put our hands to would prosper because we are more than conquerors. I pray that you would anoint our feet to follow where you call us to go.  I pray for strength in our bones, that our bodies would carry us where you desire for us to go, and we would be able to do the work you call for us to do.  Lord, I pray that we would fix our eyes on Jesus, running as you direct us.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus ~ Hebrews 12:1-2