RUN YOUR RACE WITH YOUR EYES ON JESUS!
Don’t Let the Weight Stop You From Reaching the Finish Line!

Scripture :
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth 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…”— Hebrews 12:1–2
Thought Of The Day...
There comes a time in our walk with God when we have to ask ourselves a serious question:
What am I carrying that God never told me to carry?
Hebrews 12 tells us that the Christian life is like a race. But this is not a sprint. It is a race that requires faith, endurance, discipline, patience, and focus.
The writer says:
“Let us lay aside every weight…”
Notice that the Bible distinguishes between a weight and sin.
Everything weighing you down may not necessarily be sinful, but it still may be keeping you from running effectively.
Some weights are fear.
Some weights are disappointment.
Some weights are unforgiveness.
Some weights are people’s opinions.
Some weights are past failures.
Some weights are relationships that constantly drain your spirit.
Some weights are worry about things you cannot control.
And sometimes we are asking God to give us strength to carry something when God is saying:
“I NEVER TOLD YOU TO CARRY IT. LAY IT DOWN!”
First Peter 5:7 says:
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
You cannot run freely while trying to carry yesterday’s pain, tomorrow’s worries, and today’s responsibilities all at the same time.
Some things have to be laid at the feet of Jesus.
LAY ASIDE THE SIN THAT EASILY BESETS YOU
Hebrews does not stop with the weights. It says:
“…and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”
There are some things we need God to carry, but there are other things we need to repent of and put away.
David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me…”
We cannot ask God to bless what He has told us to surrender.
We cannot run toward destiny while deliberately holding onto something that keeps pulling us backward.
Sometimes spiritual growth requires us to say:
“Lord, show me ME.”
Not my neighbor.
Not my spouse.
Not my family.
Not the people at church.
ME!
Show me what needs to change.
Show me what needs to go.
Show me what I need to surrender.
Because I don't want anything interfering with the race You have placed before me.
RUN THE RACE GOD SET BEFORE YOU
The Scripture says:
“…let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Notice it says “the race that is set before us.”
You don't have to run somebody else's race.
You don't have to compete with somebody else's calling.
You don't have to compare your chapter three with somebody else's chapter twenty.
Galatians 6:4 says:
“But let every man prove his own work…”
God has given you a race.
Your assignment may be different.
Your journey may be different.
Your timing may be different.
Your obstacles may be different.
And your testimony may be different.
Stop looking at how quickly somebody else seems to be moving and trust what God is doing in your life.
YOU ARE NOT CALLED TO OUTRUN OTHER PEOPLE. YOU ARE CALLED TO FINISH YOUR RACE FAITHFULLY!
RUN WITH PATIENCE
This may be one of the hardest parts.
“…run with patience…”
We want God to do it now.
We want the prayer answered now.
We want the door opened now.
We want the healing now.
We want the breakthrough now.
We want the situation changed now.
But sometimes God develops us while we are waiting for what He promised us.
Isaiah 40:31 declares:
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…”
Patience does not mean you have stopped believing.
Patience means:
“God, even though I haven't seen it yet, I still trust You.”
When you're tired—keep running.
When you're disappointed—keep running.
When people misunderstand you—keep running.
When prayers seem unanswered—keep running.
When you cannot see the finish line—keep running.
Why?
Because God never promised that the race would always be easy.
But He promised that He would be with you.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS
Hebrews 12:2 gives us the secret:
“Looking unto Jesus…”
Your strength will not come from constantly looking at the problem.
Your peace will not come from constantly looking at people.
Your confidence will not come from constantly looking at circumstances.
LOOK TO JESUS!
Peter learned this lesson when he walked on water.
Matthew 14:29–30 tells us Peter stepped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. But when he focused on the wind, fear entered and he began to sink.
The storm was already there when Peter stepped out.
The difference was where Peter was looking.
As long as his attention was directed toward Jesus, he was walking through something that should have overwhelmed him.
But when his focus shifted from Christ to the crisis, fear began taking over.
And somebody needs to hear this today:
DON'T LET WHAT IS AROUND YOU BECOME BIGGER THAN THE JESUS WHO IS BEFORE YOU!
JESUS IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER
Hebrews calls Jesus:
“…the author and finisher of our faith.”
If Jesus is the Author, He knows your story.
If Jesus is the Finisher, He knows how your story ends.
Philippians 1:6 says:
“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
God did not bring you this far just to abandon you halfway through the race.
There are still chapters God is writing.
There are still prayers God is answering.
There are still doors God can open.
There are still people God wants you to impact.
There is still purpose in you.
So don't quit because you're tired.
Don't quit because it became difficult.
Don't quit because somebody walked away.
Don't quit because things didn't happen according to your timetable.
LAY ASIDE THE WEIGHT.
TURN AWAY FROM THE SIN.
STOP COMPARING YOUR RACE.
RUN WITH PATIENCE.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.
And when your strength gets low, remember:
THE SAME JESUS WHO CALLED YOU TO THE RACE WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO FINISH IT!


PRAYER...
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, thank You for reminding us that we are not running this race alone.
Lord, reveal every weight that has been slowing us down. Help us release fear, worry, disappointment, bitterness, unforgiveness, painful memories, and every burden You never intended us to carry.
Search our hearts, O God. Reveal every sin that easily besets us, and give us the courage to repent, surrender, and walk in obedience.
When we become tired, strengthen us.
When we become discouraged, encourage us.
When we become distracted, redirect our eyes toward Jesus.
When we cannot understand what You are doing, give us faith to trust You anyway.
Help us stop comparing our journey with others and faithfully run the race You have personally placed before us.
We declare that our past will not stop us, our problems will not defeat us, distractions will not derail us, and discouragement will not cause us to quit.
Our eyes are on Jesus—the Author and Finisher of our faith!
Give us grace to run.
Give us patience to endure.
Give us strength to continue.
And give us faith to finish.
In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen and Amen!

DECLARATION...
TODAY I DECLARE:
I will lay aside every weight that hinders my walk with God.
I will turn away from anything that separates me from His will.
I will not compare my race with anyone else's race.
I will run with patience when the journey becomes difficult.
I will trust God when I cannot understand His timing.
I will keep moving when I feel tired.
I will keep believing when I cannot see the breakthrough.
MY EYES ARE FIXED ON JESUS!
He is the Author of my faith.
He is the Finisher of my faith.
What God has started in me, He is faithful to complete!
I WILL NOT QUIT!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP!
I WILL RUN MY RACE!
I WILL KEEP THE FAITH!
AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WILL FINISH STRONG!
In Jesus’ name—Amen!

DON'T SLEEP, BUT WATCH

1 Thessalonians 5:6

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober."

Paul reminds believers that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly. Since we belong to the light, we must live awake, vigilant, and ready.

Spiritual sleep doesn't always stem from rejecting God; it can begin with negligence, routine, and laxity. One can be present in the church while being spiritually absent.

Watching means keeping your heart attached to God, discerning dangers, and remaining ready to obey. Sobriety prevents us from being intoxicated by the distractions of the world.

Examine your level of spiritual alertness. Is your prayer, your communion with God, and your adherence to His Word still alive? Awaken what is weakening and refuse to let routine lull your faith to sleep.

O Lord, awaken my spirit and keep me vigilant. Deliver me from all spiritual negligence so that I may remain ready, sober, and faithful until your return, in the name of Jesus.

#Vigilance🏼
#SpiritandLife

The resurrection changed everything

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Kingdom Carriers | What Will Remain?

Life has a way of reminding us that not everything we spend our time pursuing will ultimately matter.

Jesus said:

"Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." — Luke 12:15

One day, the titles will be gone.
The possessions will belong to someone else.
The applause will fall silent.
And many things we thought were urgent will no longer matter.

What will remain?
The lives we touched.
The love we gave.
The faith we carried.
The Christ we reflected.

Paul reached the end of his journey and didn't speak about what he had accumulated.

He simply said:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7

Perhaps that's a life well lived.

Not simply to leave behind more.

But to leave behind evidence that Jesus mattered to us.

Grace and peace,

Jacob

Kingdom Carriers (Free Download)

https://books2read.com/u/mlJqo7

Website

https://www.jacobisaac.co.nz

There are moments when life feels like a prison—when the chains are heavy, the pain is real, and the answers seem nowhere to be found.

Paul and Silas knew what it meant to suffer. They were beaten, wounded, and thrown into prison. Their feet were fastened in stocks, and yet at midnight, instead of complaining, they prayed and sang praises to God.

Their circumstances did not change their worship.

They understood something powerful: JOY IS NOT FOUND IN PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES. JOY IS FOUND IN JESUS.

Maybe today you are carrying your own “chains.” Maybe you are facing financial struggles, rejection, disappointment, family problems, unanswered prayers, or a battle that nobody else knows about.

You may not be able to change your situation immediately, but you can choose how you respond to it.

Pray when you feel weak.
Praise when you feel broken.
Trust when you cannot understand.
Worship even when the answer has not yet come.

Paul and Silas praised God before the prison doors opened. Their praise was not based on what God had already done—it was based on who God is.

And sometimes, your greatest testimony begins in the darkest place.

The prison could hold their bodies, but it could not hold their faith.
The chains could restrain their feet, but they could not silence their praise.
The pain could hurt them, but it could not separate them from God.

So if you're going through a difficult season right now, don't stop praying. Don't stop believing. Don't stop praising.

Your midnight is not the end of your story.

Keep worshiping.

Because the same God who was with Paul and Silas in the prison is still with you in your darkest hour.

Your joy is not in the situation.
Your joy is in Jesus.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
— Acts 16:25

PRAISE HIM IN THE PAIN.
TRUST HIM IN THE STORM.
WORSHIP HIM IN THE MIDNIGHT.

Because when Jesus is your source of joy, even a prison cannot steal your praise.

Jesus Conquered Death.

#Faith #VictoryOverDeath #ConqueredTheGrave #ChristIsRise

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Focus on faithfulness, not comparison.

Share this with someone who needs encouragement to stop comparing and keep growing in faith.

#Galatians64 #Faithfulness #NoComparison #GodsPurpose #StayFocused #GrowInFaith #WalkByFaith #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #Lordsbook

August 26
“WHO GOD IS TO ME”
MY HOPE
Psalm 71:5 (LLV) —
“For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You have been my trust since my youth.”
Hope
is often
spoken of
as something
we wish
will happen.
“I hope
things get better.”
“I hope
everything works out.”
“I hope
tomorrow
will be easier.”
But biblical hope
is different.
It is not
a wish.
It is
confidence
placed
in Someone.
“For You
are my hope,
O Lord GOD.”
The psalmist
does not say,
“My hope
is that
my circumstances
will improve.”
His hope
is God.
Then he looks
backward.
“You have been
my trust
since my youth.”
There is something
beautiful
about faith
that has lived
long enough
to remember.
Years
bring memories.
Some joyful.
Some painful.
Some we would
gladly live
again.
Others
we are simply
grateful
to have survived.
But when
we look back,
we can often see
something
we could not see
while we were
living through them.
God
was there.
Through doors
that opened.
Through doors
that closed.
Through prayers
answered
as we hoped.
Through prayers
answered
in ways
we did not
understand.
Through beginnings.
Through endings.
Through laughter.
Through tears.
God
was there.
And yesterday's
faithfulness
becomes
today's reason
for hope.
The psalmist
does not pretend
the future
holds no uncertainty.
Later he prays,
“Do not cast me away
when I am old;
do not forsake me
when my strength
is gone.”
He knows
life changes.
Strength fades.
Tomorrow
contains things
we cannot predict.
But God
does not change
with our seasons.
The God
who held us
when we were young
does not become
less faithful
as the years
pass.
So hope
does not require us
to know
what happens next.
Hope says,
“I know
who will be there.”
Perhaps
that is why
this is
the right place
to finish
our journey.
We have called Him:
My Rock.
My Shepherd.
My Light.
My Refuge.
My Strength.
My Keeper.
The One
who walks
with me.
My Hiding Place.
And now,
after remembering
all those things,
we can look
toward whatever
comes next
and say:
You are
my hope.
A new beginning can face an unknown tomorrow because it remembers a faithful yesterday:
I may not know what lies ahead, but I know the God who will be there.
Reflection: When I look back over my life, where can I see God's faithfulness giving me reason to trust Him with what still lies ahead?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have been faithful through every season of my life. Thank You for the times I recognized Your hand and for the times You were working when I could not see it. When tomorrow feels uncertain, help me remember yesterday's faithfulness. You have been my trust, and You remain my hope. Whatever years or days lie ahead, let me face them with confidence—not because I know what they hold, but because I know You will be there. In Jesus' name, Amen.

They put Jesus in a tomb—but death couldn't keep Him there.

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