Running the Race

“Jesus said, “Do not worry about your physical well-being. People who don’t know any better run after all the things they want, but your Heavenly Father knows your needs. Run for his kingdom and his righteousness then everything that you need will be taken care of.” - Matthew 6:32-33

What things do you run after in your life. This is a similar angle form yesterday’s thinking on goals we want to achieve. As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Sometimes, we find ourselves chasing after the things that we think we want instead of what we need. When you spend too much time focusing on the wrong things, you tend to lose sight of the things that might be right for you. We have to stop chasing the wrong things if we’re going to grow.

There may be things in your life that you’re chasing that are no longer benefiting you. You have to stop chasing those things so that the things you need to grow have a chance to catch up to you. This also means that you have to be patient.

I know sometimes you don’t want to wait for the right things to find you, but trying to force something to be right isn’t any better. It is much better in the long run to be patient.

During World War 1, Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was a famous German fighter pilot. Most people don’t recognise the name Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, but they do recognise him as the nickname that was given to him during the war – the Red Baron.

During WWI, Richthofen shot down 80 enemy aircraft, more than any other pilot. He was called the Red Baron because the airplane he flew was painted bright red.

On April 12, 1918, Richthofen was chasing after a Canadian fighter pilot and in the chase flew his red airplane too far into enemy territory and was shot down. Eye witnesses said the Red Baron had been flying way too low, and was probably so mentally involved in chasing after the other pilot that he never realised he had flown into the enemies air space, which cost him his life.

Many Christians are the same way. We get caught up in chasing after the things of this world, and before we know it – we’re way too deep into enemy territory and we get shot down spiritually.

I suppose the message to take away form this devotional today is, “be careful what you chase after.”

Dear Heavenly Father, too often I have allowed worry and fretful fears to overtake my heart and mind, which causes my faith to falter when I should be looking to You and remembering Your never-failing faithfulness. Thank You for the simple truth in the Sermon on the Mount, that God knows all my needs and will never leave me comfortless. Help me to always remember that if You feed the birds of the air and clothe the flowers of the field so beautifully, You will most certainly take care of Your children, who have trusted Christ for salvation. Help me to keep the eyes of my heart on Jesus and not on the circumstances of life - in Jesus' name I pray, Amen