Month 8 isn’t the easiest month for World Racers.
You are close enough to the end of the race to be tired and far enough from the end to not soak in every moment and opportunity around us.
Investing, learning to love, serving, listening, crying with those that cry, and rejoicing with those that rejoice has been amazing. It’s been amazing but after each month we say goodbye and after each team change we start a new.
Month 8 means we’ve done this at least 7 times. We have squad leaders, coaches, and alumni tell us to have people preach, teach, and remind each other to have steadfastness.
Being steadfast is easier said than done.
As I sit in the middle of team time listening to everyone’s heart, we all say the same thing. We want to be pursued by our team. All of us want to step back and let the other party come to us because we are simply tired.
This is something that not only hurts our relationship with our friends and family but the most important relationship we have- you and God. God isn’t sitting back waiting for you to pursue him. Why do you think you are reading this-had the time to read this, the internet, the want? It’s because he wants you to seek him even when you don’t feel like it.
Things that may stop you from seeking:
–Fear He won’t show up.
“ You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
He is a faithful God who keeps His word but don’t forget the last part “with all your heart.”
–Don’t know how to seek Him.
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
Pray about how to discipline yourself, what to surrender, and what to do.
All my heart=emotion, passion- when I don’t “feel” him I will still seek
Him. When I have hardship, laughter, tears, praise, He
wants to hear all of it.
All my soul= the deep desire within you. Ask God to reveal it- if it is to
Become rich and famous-SURRENDER and realize …
“they (people of faith in the bible) desire a better country that
is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Hebrews 11:16-17
All my mind=READ scripture, memorize, meditate, study the bible with the
intellect you have been given.
· If you don’t know if you can trust scripture-research why believers believe it is the inerrant word of God (this will grow your faith- take the time)
· Spend TIME reading, focusing on a verse talk to people about what you’ve read, listen to pastor’s sermons- God wants you in community to help in this.
All your strength= this could be eating healthy and not letting food be
worship
· this could be practicing the discipline of fasting
· this could be simply waking up early to have time with God before your day starts
· this could be resisting temptation
—Don’t have time or the will
If you don’t have the will- pray against that. Be honest with God and repent. Ask for forgiveness for not wanting Him and ask Him to help you.
If you don’t have the time, adapt. Wake up earlier, take a day off, get creative on where and when.
The point is– it’s not always going to be your first choice to be steadfast. It’s not going to be your first reaction to love your friend enough to take time to ask awkward deep questions. Waking up early, fasting giving up things I like aren’t always my favorite but it is love.
God redefines love.
“Love is patient and kind;…Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 and 7
The act of love for God and people is steadfastness.
And so my team-even in tiredness decide to pursue God, pursue each other, and pursue the people in our ministry.
Believe me, just like with time tiredness comes- with time, tiredness leaves. So let these moments show your character by acting outside of emotion (or lack of) and inside the love you have.
Seriously though, when I get over myself it is so easy to love these ladies! 🙂
