TUESDAY: LIFE IS A RACE

Sep 20, 2022
2 min read

Lord, I’ve been running a good race for You, but sometimes I get confused, which cuts me off from obeying the truth. Please help me to stay focused and know when I’m running on the path You have laid out.

Galatians 5:7-10

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

If I consider myself a runner on the journey of life, my run can be interrupted by someone or blocked by something in my path. If the goal is to obey the truth, then the obstacle becomes an obstruction of the truth. This presupposes I’m not the obstacle—and I haven’t tripped over myself in order to obtain the truth.

Whoever or whatever it is becomes a major distraction in my life and keeps me from hearing the Lord clearly. When I desire to hear the truth, the distraction becomes louder. When I distance myself from the truth, the distraction is not as loud because it already has my attention.

The distraction occurs when I want to believe truth is surreal. Distractions can ask me to water down the truth or compromise my belief in Christ. Just as it only takes a little yeast to work through the whole batch of dough, it only takes a little doubt to compromise my faith.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Someone is often at fault for throwing me into confusion. But I must realize that I’m also responsible. I have been persuaded to be confused and have allowed this confusion to work itself through my heart and mind.

I am confident in the Lord that if I confess my sin, He will forgive me and shine His light on my heart to show me the truth. If it’s a race I’m running, I want to make sure I’m moving in the right direction. I can only see the path ahead, if His light is shining on me. Otherwise, I am running in the dark and will trip over all kinds of distractions.

I’m responsible for the direction I’m moving and also for who I’m following. If I’m not careful, I will allow someone to cut me off while I’m following Jesus. This will distract me from obeying His truth.

Lord, keep me headed in the right direction, and keep shining Your light on me. I don’t want to lose focus of my direction or of following You.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman