“So, I recently started going back to the gym again. Usually I go to Planet Fitness, but this time I decided to go to the Y instead. And as I was there on the treadmill, with my Beats on listening to my worship music, I noticed something beautiful there were people of all ages there, from the teenage years of life to the silver years of life. Amen.

And it was such a blessing to watch, because everyone was moving, but everyone was moving at their own pace. Amen. They have a track that wraps around the inside of the workout equipment, and there are two lanes: one for walking and one for running. You choose which lane you want to be in. Some are running, some are fast-paced walking, some are slowly walking. And then there are times when someone needs to step over into the running lane to pass someone who is a little slower but only to move right back into their own lane again. Amen.

And as I was there, I began thinking about God’s Word and how He tells us that we are “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,” and that we are to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets us. We are called to run with perseverance patience, if you will the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1–2). Amen.

And in 1 Corinthians, it tells us, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it.” It says that everyone who competes goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, we do not run like someone running aimlessly; we do not fight like one beating the air. Instead, we discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection, so that after we have preached to others, that we ourselves will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). Amen.

In other words, we do not follow our sinful nature, and we do not give in to our flesh always getting its own way in life. How many of you know that our sinful nature and our flesh can get us into trouble when we follow it? And most of the time, it wants the easy, quick way in everything. But we also know that time and patience are the key to true, lasting victory in who we are in Christ. Amen.

So, at the end of it all, we can say that we have fought the good fight. Amen. That we have finished our course and kept the faith. It says that there is a crown of righteousness laid up for us, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to us on that day (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Hallelujah.

And that is the encouragement for us as children of God that we get rid of hindrances, that we stay diligent, and that we keep going as we press on toward the eternal reward the crowns that we will receive and obtain through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!”

“For it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi 🏃🏻‍♀️👑❤️