Heaven Bound: Win The Race!

Written by Anthony Mullins


Billy Graham once said, “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion; it is like a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

Nothing is out of reach when you put your heart into it. Think about it. Who setsrepparttar boundaries and limits in your life? We tend to define ourselves; establish our own boundaries. With God, there are no boundaries, only greatness. It is easy to forget who we are and why we are here. It is easy to get caught up inrepparttar 126540 daily grind and lose sight ofrepparttar 126541 end reward; however we must always remember to where we are going.

You were chosen by God, created to fulfill His dreams and purpose. Often times so much focus is placed upon ourselves and our own objectives, we forgetrepparttar 126542 reason for which we were created. Just as you dream, He also dreams. Long before you were created, God had a dream and from this dream came your marathon. For His purpose, you were created. Throughoutrepparttar 126543 Bible, God refers torepparttar 126544 race and gives a specific training recipe for victory. Are you ready to be a champion for Him?

First, you must go into strict training in preparation forrepparttar 126545 race:

Do you know that in a race all runners run, but only one getsrepparttar 126546 prize? Run in such a way to getrepparttar 126547 prize. Everyone who competes inrepparttar 126548 games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it for a crown that will last forever. Therefore do not run like a man aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I will not be disqualified forrepparttar 126549 prize. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

These verses tell us thatrepparttar 126550 race will not be easy. It will take hard work, discipline, sharp focus and sacrifice. Sure, it would be easier to sit onrepparttar 126551 sidelines and be a cheerleader for others. But, I challenge you to joinrepparttar 126552 race and discover what great things God has dreamed for you.

William James said, “Most people never run far enough on their first wind, to find out what they have on their second.” The race will be tough and you will face many difficult challenges. Remain steadfast on your journey. You will tire, but do not give up. You will struggle, but persevere. I challenge you to look inside yourself and find your second wind. Develop yourself and your skills to success. Prayer, study and worship will help you develop stamina and excitement forrepparttar 126553 race, even when you think your tank is empty.

Second, you must turn all of your strength and energy toward winningrepparttar 126554 race.

Not that I have already obtained this, or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press towardrepparttar 126555 goal to winrepparttar 126556 prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:12-13

Putting God first and living a Christian life is a challenge. It will take all of your focus and energy. Keep your eyes onrepparttar 126557 prize and do not look back; there will be time for reflection atrepparttar 126558 finish line. In every aspect of your life, keep your mission in focus. Losing sight ofrepparttar 126559 prize could cost yourepparttar 126560 race. Consider not only “what would Jesus do” (WWJD) but also “what would Jesus think or say?” Let Him coach you to victory!

Why God might delay the answer to your prayers

Written by Terry Dashner


Why Does God Delayrepparttar Answers to Our Prayers?

Terry Dashner Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586, Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Have you ever had a pressing need in your life and prayed with all your might that God would answer you quickly? Have you ever been disappointed whenrepparttar 126539 answer failed to materialize? If your answer to these questions is yes then you might be interested in what I’m going to share with you.

God is a gracious God who longs to fellowship with us. He has created us for His glory (Isa.43:7), and He delights in blessing us. He wants to bless us so that He can demonstrate His magnificent glory torepparttar 126540 entire world. With that said, it is important to know that God wants us to pray. Also, He wants to answer our prayers. So this begsrepparttar 126541 questions: If God wants us to pray, wants us to have answers, then why doesn’t He answer all our prayers?

What I’m about to share with you did not come from a text book. I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned about answered prayers from years of praying, petitioning, interceding, and living (sometimes struggling) throughrepparttar 126542 Christian walk.

One thing I’ve learned is that God does answer prayers but not always immediately or inrepparttar 126543 way I think they should be answered. Let me illustrate this. There is an ancient parable taught in some countries that underscoresrepparttar 126544 importance of children obeying their parents.

The story is told of a father and son who journey torepparttar 126545 woods one day. After some time inrepparttar 126546 forestrepparttar 126547 father decides to sit down for a rest. The boy, onrepparttar 126548 other hand, is not ready to rest and decides to climb a large tree. Going higher and higher, from limb to limbrepparttar 126549 boy suddenly stops climbing and turns towards his father who is resting below. Just asrepparttar 126550 boy calls out to his father,repparttar 126551 father jumps to his feet and tells his son to come down immediately. The boy disheartened, but nonetheless obedient, moves downrepparttar 126552 tree quickly.

Whenrepparttar 126553 boy asks his father why he had been ordered down, his father points to a large branch just aboverepparttar 126554 perch where he had been only moments before. There onrepparttar 126555 branch and within striking distance ofrepparttar 126556 boy’s earlier perch, was a large viper coiled around a large branch. Ifrepparttar 126557 boy had climbed higher and had disturbedrepparttar 126558 snake, he could have been fatally wounded by its venom.

What this parable teaches is relative to our relationship with our heavenly Father. From our position in life, sometimes it’s difficult to see what lies ahead. But fromrepparttar 126559 Father’s advantage point, He sees everything. Oftentimes He will test our obedience by telling us to “wait” or telling us “no.” We might think He is insensitive to our feelings or putting on us too much to bear atrepparttar 126560 time; however, later with His loving grace He reveals to us His wisdom in His answer.

I’ve learned through these times not to question God or to doubt His trustworthiness. He is always looking out for my good just likerepparttar 126561 father inrepparttar 126562 ancient parable. He might not answer merepparttar 126563 way I think He should, but I’m usually made aware later of His infinite wisdom in doing what He did orrepparttar 126564 way He did it. Glory!

I’ve also learned from years of praying (for things) that God is more concerned about me fellowshipping with Him than He is about giving me “things.” Someone once said that it’s okay to have “things” just don’t let “things” have you. That’srepparttar 126565 point of God delaying or denying me “things.” I’ll try to explain it better this way. Yes, I’m like you and want nice things. In Matthew’s Gospel (Matt.6:33) it talks aboutrepparttar 126566 desire of my Heavenly Father to give me many things; however, before He will give me things, He will first make sure that I’m mature enough to handlerepparttar 126567 things. For example, although my son wanted to drive my car when he was 12, I didn’t throwrepparttar 126568 keys to him and say, “Sure son, take her for a spin.” Of course he had to grow to maturity and procure a drivers license before I would let him drive.

I’m satisfied that many times I ask for things that are not ready for me yet. The test is: Will I userepparttar 126569 requested thing or things for God’s Glory and not my own? For example, if He were to give me a million dollars before I knewrepparttar 126570 value and purpose of faithful stewardship, would I userepparttar 126571 money to glorify Him or His Kingdom? I’m sad to say, probably not. God has good reason for holding back some ofrepparttar 126572 things I ask for. The reason: I need more work and maturity in that area which can only be accomplished by sustained fellowship with Him.

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