My Race, My Pace

Ecclesiastes 9:10-11Living Bible (TLB)

“10 Whatever you do, do well, for in death, where you are going, there is no working or planning, or knowing, or understanding.11 Again I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race…” (Italics mine)

There is a wonderful work-out group I am honored to be part of online. Their motto is My Race, My Pace. We are all using Fitbit devices to monitor our steps each day. It is a low-pressure environment where whatever we do, we try to “do well.”  I was thinking about this group today and the scripture popped into my head that “The swiftest person does not always win the race.” When I was young I was a sprinter in the game of life. I pushed myself until I was exhausted and then berated myself to do more. Whether it was volunteer activities or cleaning my house, I judged myself harshly and my efforts were never good enough. Lately I have been slowed down against my will by pain. I am forced many days to be still. In this stillness I see the value of being quiet and listening for God’s voice. I see how God in His mercy does not measure us by our list of accomplishments, but He wants us to choose “the good part.”

Luke 10:40-42 NASB

“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

The part of that scripture that wraps around me like a comforting blanket is “which shall not be taken away from her.”When I choose Him, nothing can take Him away from me, not illness, not war, not pain, not circumstance. He is the only thing that robbers cannot break in and steal, even those who would wish to take my life cannot take Him from me.

Matthew 6:19-21New American Standard Bible (NASB)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

My personal motto would really be My Race, God’s Pace.

Hebrews 1:1-3 NASB

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Don’t grow weary precious ones. Don’t lose heart. He loves you so much, He is there in the middle of everything you are going through right now, right this minute and if you listen to His voice, He will set the pace.