Run For The Prize
 Everything we strive to accomplish in the natural world, works the same way in the spiritual world. A sports person who sets their sights on fulfilling their dreams will have to push their body through the most excruciating pain to obtain their prize.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Take track and field for instance, if you want to run the 100-meter you would have to train differently than you would for a 10,000-meter endurance race. The 100-meter is a dash - you have to take off and pick up speed quickly until you reach the finish line. You have to work on your speed because a thousandth of a second could be the difference between a win or a loss. For a 10,000-meter race you train for endurance. You’re in it for the long haul and you have to condition your body accordingly. Just as you need to work different muscles to get into peak condition, eat the right food as well take the necessary minerals and vitamins for your natural body, you have to prepare for your spiritual race.
To attain spiritual goals, visions and dreams you have to keep yourself healthy and continuously condition yourself to eat good spiritual food, exercise your faith and stand on the Word of God. Another way to say this is above all, you need to study and meditate in the Word of God and apply it to every situation in your daily life as you run the race for the eternal prize.
Lay aside every weight
“Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap  themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (TLB)
If we are going to strive for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus we have to keep our focus on the things that pertain to life and godliness. We cannot allow the cares of this world to choke the Word that has been sown in our hearts, as this will cause us to lose our focus and divert from the path that God has set before us. It is vital that we keep ourselves free of unnecessary weights and burdens as it is obvious that any type of weight will hold you back or slow you down. How do we keep ourselves free? Be honest with yourself and acknowledge any sin that may be holding you back or slowing you down and then lay it aside or cast it off. Then continually renew your mind and humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, …casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that we are a three-part being, the apostle Paul prays, "May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Lord is interested in the whole person. Scripture tells us that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things (1 Tim.4:8). It has been proven that frequent exercise adds seven to eleven years to your life. However, the benefits of spiritual exercise are eternal!
As you run the race, remember who it is that is waiting for you at the winning post. This is no ordinary race, it is a race of endurance, a race of glory, a race that is run for an imperishable crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give to all who have loved His appearing. We must keep our eyes on Him, so that finally we can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”, and in turn hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matt. 25:23)
 “Seek to have a love which is not like a transient flame, burning for a moment and then extinguished; but a flame which shall increase and increase, and still increase, till your heart shall be swallowed up therein, and Jesus Christ's one name shall be the sole object of your affection. We must, in running the heavenly race, set nothing less before us than that which Christ did set before him. He set the joy of salvation before himself, and then he did run, despising the cross and enduring the shame. So let us do; and may God give us good success, that by his good Spirit we may attain unto eternal life, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Excerpt from The Heavenly Race, Rev. C. H. Spurgeon
June 11, 1858
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Bro. Peter Rahme
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