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

Changing Your Mind

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion…unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.  The mind can either be at rest or it can be busy at all times.

My mind was in perpetual motion, constantly worried about something. Although things were being taken care of, I was never able to rest. But a wise friend suggested a semester of rest—to stop working and just rest in my Father’s love for me.  That was hard to do.  I was a “doer” and in the midst of the chaos, my identity got caught up in “doing” instead of being…

When I was first told to run as a way to alleviate stress, I really disliked it, but I quickly discovered that running was the unbalanced force my mind needed to shift from doing to resting.  But the enemy was aware of this and began to flood my mind with constant lies, “You’ll never be able to do this.  You’re too tired. You can’t do this.”  Over and over I heard in my head, “I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!”  But then something amazing happened: I opened my mouth and said, “I can! I can! I can!”  Throughout that whole day, and every time after when I felt something come against me, I would open my mouth and say, “I can!”

What has the enemy been saying you can’t do? Refute his lies by saying out loud, “I can!”

©Heather Potts 2016

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.