Endurance

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/endurance the race marked out for us-Hebrews 12:1

We are all in a race. Sometimes it may feel like we are running the hurdle portion of the race, but we are all heading toward the finish line. Sometimes you leap over the hurdles, sometimes you fall flat on your face, but you have to get back up. Sometimes(and this is the one I've learned lately), you may feel like you have fallen, but you really you just may have hit the hurdle as you leaped over. Feelings will keep you down, but faith keeps you running forward. Don't look at the hurdles, keep your eyes ahead. We mess up when we start looking at what we have to leap over and what everyone else is doing. How much frustration and stress could we cut out of our lives, if we would quit paying attention to what others are doing(or not doing) and just focus on what He has called us to do? Hmm...yep that stepped all over me yesterday.

When we take our eyes off of our focus and start looking around, it's just like Peter did when He took His eyes off of Jesus. We start to fall. We can't run this race if we are paying attention to everyone else. Focus on what He's called you to do, He'll bring along those He has planned in your path.

Running with endurance means not giving up even when you feel like it, even when the hurdles are one right after another, even when the finish line looks to be far off in the distance. Run it for One and watch what He does.

When you fall(and you will), get back up and keep going. You will feel sore and remember those "moments", but you will also remember that you got back up and that my dear reader is a sign of strength that only comes from the One.