Are You Running Your Race?

I love this time of year. I don’t make New Years resolutions, but I do like to set goals for the coming year. It is important to set goals for the new year, but they can’t just be any kind of goals. They need to be the right goals.

My question for you is: Are you running “your” race?

“…Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us.”

– Hebrews 12:1

You have a particular race that God has set before you to run. It has to do with the divine destiny God has planned for you to fulfill. You are not to run someone else’s race, for God has a specific race for each of us. It can be tempting to look at what somebody else is doing and think we should be running the same race, however God is not going to judge you by what he put in somebody else’s heart.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

– Jeremiah 29:11-13

I find that whenever God asks me to do something new, it is almost always something I don’t think I can do. God always has bigger plans for you than you do for yourself.

Five Steps for running your race:

#1 Celebrate Your Victories.

What were your victories in 2013? Celebrate your victories with your team. It really gives your team confidence in your leadership when they see you accomplish your goals.

#2 Evaluate the Past.

What were your failures? The question isn’t: Do you make mistakes? Everybody makes mistakes. The right question is: Do you learn from your mistakes?

#3 Forget The Past.

The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Hebrews to “lay aside the weights and the sins which slow us down.” The past can be a weight, which will slow you down in running your race. If you are thinking about the past you are not thinking about the future. Keep moving. Don’t allow your past to control your future.

#4 Talk To God About His Plan.

Don’t allow circumstances to direct your life. God has a plan for you and the only way to figure it out is to spend time with God. Make sure you take time to listen. Don’t do all the talking during your prayer time. Half of your prayer life should be spent listening.

# 5 Write Down Your Vision.

“Write the vision, and make it plain”

– Habakkuk 2:2

Writing down your vision is the first step of obedience. If it’s still in your head it’s not getting done. Make a list of goals for every area of your life.

• Personal Goals – discipline, weight loss, devotions
• Family Goals – relationships, parents, kids
• Financial Goals – Do you want to get out of debt? Write down you debts.
• Ministry Goals – What does God want you to do this year?
• Career Goals – What do you want to accomplish this year?

After writing down your goals take time to review your vision at least once a week. Try to get you list on one page. If it’s more than one page cut some stuff out. Use this list to evaluate your progress and keep running your race!