You always run faster when there is a crowd cheering.
I noticed this at the Olympics – how many personal bests were achieved, records broken. Some of that will have been from the thrill and challenge of competing, and beating others. Some of that, I suspect, is from the volume of the cheers, and the weight of expectation in their voices.
The runners carry the good wishes of their nation in every step, and that is enough to quicken it.
The Bible says that the Christian life is like a race. On a day like today, when I feel like I am flagging and need cheering on, I go to Hebrews 11.
I read with comfort the list of those who have gone before me, the ragtag crazy bunch of people, messed up in various ways, whom God is pleased to name as heroes of the faith. The adulterers, the questioners, the wrestlers; they limped through, and they won.
Today I am glad that David, Gideon, Jacob, Rahab are listed as people of faith, the people who had their eyes fixed on things unseen, who longed for a better country.
Today I listen for their voices, in that great cloud of witnesses, cheering me on to keep running, to keep my eyes fixed on that better country, that glorious saviour.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” Heb 12:1-2a
With thanks to Scott Herron for the encouragement this week
Over to you:
- Whose voices do you need to hear today, cheering you on in the race?
Linking with Joy in this Journey, Imperfect Prose, WIP Weds
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Hurrah! After all I got a web site from where I know how to genuinely obtain useful
information concerning my study and knowledge.
I’m cheering you on, on my side of the world. And I’m so grateful for all the imperfect people who struggled, they help me to carry on too. Hope you are doing well.
Thanks so much for your cheers!
I think about this a lot. I even picture my grandparents in that great cloud of witnesses. It comforts me to think they are rooting for me as well.
I really like that idea of picturing your grandparents in the cloud of witnesses – that’s such a great thought! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Love what you wrote Tanya, i.e.
“Today I listen for their voices, in that great cloud of witnesses, cheering me on to keep running, to keep my eyes fixed on that better country, that glorious saviour.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” Heb 12:1-2a”
Thanks for this reminder!
Thanks – I’m so glad it resonated with you!
I love your post…I love the message.
Thank you!
Tanya, we do have those wonderful, flawed examples to look to when we feel like dropping out of the race- they are an encouragement indeed, as are your sweet words today. Visiting from FMF-
just a note- I just returned from the UK last week. I love it there. You are blessed to have some of the best bit of nature that the Lord created- in my opinion! N
Thanks for this – and how great that you were in my neck of the woods lately! Glad you enjoyed it. I see you like Eng Lit as well – thought you might enjoy my post, ‘One book’. Blessings!
Yours is one of the voices Tanya: thanks.
That makes my heart glad 🙂
And back atcha.