Article Display
Email  |  My Account  |  Donate
When I was in junior high, I joined the track team at my school. I’ll never forget the first 880 race I ran. Halfway through it I got tired and decided I was finished, so I got off the track, trotted across the field, and stood by the coach.

He was watching for all the runners to come across the finish line and couldn’t find me, so he hollered, “Where’s Hankins?” I spoke up beside him, “Right here, Coach.” Boy, was he ever mad at me! I guess the first lesson I learned in track was not to quit or try to take a shortcut, but to stay on course and finish my race, even if I was tired.

I have friends who run marathons and other long races that require endurance. I have noticed that the physical and mental training process they undergo can be compared to the mental training process they undergo can be compared to the Christian race.

One runner, Zale Tabakman, said this: “The skills required for success and the skills required for running a successful marathon are one and the same. Successful runners focus on a goal, are patient and realize everything takes time. We plan our training, we make sure we maintain our motivation and we gather people around us to help us.”

Hebrews 12:2 in the Amplified says, “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also it’s Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Focus on the Goal
Both Paul and Peter talk about the goal, the prize or the hope and inheritance. This goal kept them going when things got very hard. It’s like runners in a race. They don’t look down, but set their eyes on short goals, always remembering the final prize. In the same way, Peter encouraged the church not to forget the goal, the end of their faith. They were being persecuted and some were even killed, but this was not time to quit!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, yea are in heaviness through manifold temptations."That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-4, 6-9)

When you think things look impossible and you’re going a great trial of your faith, keep on believing, speaking and rejoicing! Even though you can’t see Jesus, love Him and believe Him so much that you can’t help but be full of joy unspeakable and full of glory. When you do that, you are receiving what you believe! You are headed to the finish line!

When you think things look impossible and you’re going through a great trial of your faith, keep on believing, speaking, and rejoicing!

Cheering From the Grandstands
There is no purpose for a race without a goal. For the believer, that goal is receiving all you have believed for and the ultimate prize of winning Christ. Hebrews 12:1-3 is a classic picture of the race we are in. We see the witnesses in the grandstands cheering us on and Jesus, the focus of our eyes. He is our example of how to focus on the prize so that we don’t quit. He was looking at the joy before Him with every step toward Calvary.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

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. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, least you be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Heb. 12:1-3)

“Just think of Him’ Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.” (Heb. 12:3 AMP)

Jesus was seeing you and me. He was seeing the Father saying, “Well done!” He was practicing what He told His disciples in John 16:33, “…in the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” I’m so glad Jesus endured and didn’t quit!

Jesus’ course took Him through the dark valley of death and seemed like a place of defeat. However with joy as His strength, he has become our great example of how to finish your course with joy.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NKJV)

Paul wasn’t looking at the trouble around him, because he had seen a vision of Jesus. That vision became his focus so he wouldn’t run his race in vain. He kept his focus with the help of joy!

Source: The Secret Power of Joy
Excerpt permission granted by Mark Hankins Ministries

Author Biography

Mark Hankins
Web site: Mark Hankins Ministries
 
Mark and Trina Hankins travel nationally and internationally preaching the Word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit. The vision of MHM is to take the spirit of faith, the message of who the believer is in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit to every generation and to every nation. Mark and Trina Hankins have been in full-time ministry for over thirty five years. Through church services, leadership conferences, mission trips, publications, radio, television, Bible schools, and the internet, MHM is reaching the world with the Word of God. Mark is known widely for his unique anointing to minister on the subjects of faith and the believer’s identification in Christ.
Read more...

About Us

The online ministry of cfaith has been helping people discover faith, friends and freedom in the Word since 2000. Cfaith provides a unique and comprehensive collection of faith-building resources for the worldwide faith community.

At cfaith, you can strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of the Word of God by digging into the vast collection of teaching articles, streaming audio and video messages, and daily devotionals. No other website offers such a unique and extensive collection of spiritual-growth resources aimed at helping you grow in your knowledge of the Word.

Read More...

 

 

Support Us

Why support cfaith?


(All contributions are 100% tax deductible)


SUPPORT CFAITH WITH ONE CLICK!

For every Internet search you make using
goodsearch, cfaith will receive one penny!

GS Logo 250x38

Contact Us

Business Hours:


Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. CST
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Phone:

(763) 488-7800 or (800) 748-8107

Mailing Address: 

CFAITH.com
9201 75th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 

Login Form

Please ignore the “Secret Key” field; it is not needed to log in to cfaith.

Login Change Article

Spring360x442
You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.