Latest / Kate’s Devotional Podcast / How’s Your Race Going?

Transcript

How’s Your Race Going? · Kate’s Devotional Podcast

0:07
SPEAKER_00: Hi, I'm Kate Dresden, and welcome to Kate's devotional podcast.
0:11
SPEAKER_00: I drop my podcast every Wednesday.
0:13
SPEAKER_00: It's always a five minute or less devotional to bring you encouragement as we try
0:17
SPEAKER_00: to live our lives according to the Bible.
0:19
SPEAKER_00: So glad you're here.
0:22
SPEAKER_00: Well, we are all running in the race of life.
0:24
SPEAKER_00: So how's your race going these days?
0:27
SPEAKER_00: I started thinking about this because
0:29
SPEAKER_00: several years ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer she was only
0:33
SPEAKER_00: given a few months to live and i'll never forget what she said i want to finish my
0:39
SPEAKER_00: race well those words stuck with me because that's what i want too and i've been
0:45
SPEAKER_00: thinking about this whole race concept lately you know when i cross the finish line
0:50
SPEAKER_00: i want God to be pleased with how i ran the race how i served him i mean after all
0:55
SPEAKER_00: we're only given one life there's no do-overs
0:59
SPEAKER_00: So in thinking about this race, I have some tips that I think all of us can use.
1:04
SPEAKER_00: It's nothing new.
1:05
SPEAKER_00: It just comes right out of the Bible.
1:07
SPEAKER_00: Number one, run light.
1:09
SPEAKER_00: We got to ditch what weighs us down.
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SPEAKER_00: We can't run with bricks in our backpack or ankle weights on our legs.
1:16
SPEAKER_00: Hebrews 12.1 says,
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SPEAKER_00: And I'm reading out of the New King James Version.
1:21
SPEAKER_00: Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
1:26
SPEAKER_00: and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
1:30
SPEAKER_00: We've got to get rid of the sin and leave its ways behind us.
1:34
SPEAKER_00: According to 1 John 1, 9, God's going to forgive and forget our past sins if we confess them to him.
1:42
SPEAKER_00: Number two, run smart.
1:45
SPEAKER_00: We got to keep hydrated.
1:46
SPEAKER_00: Just as runners need water, we need to be actively studying the Bible.
1:51
SPEAKER_00: The Bible is our water.
1:53
SPEAKER_00: It provides the map and instructions on how to do this thing.
1:57
SPEAKER_00: Joshua 1.8 says,
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SPEAKER_00: this book of law shall not depart from your mouth,
2:01
SPEAKER_00: but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to
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SPEAKER_00: all that is written in it.
2:10
SPEAKER_00: Just as we need water to live, a Christian needs the Bible.
2:14
SPEAKER_00: Number three, run long.
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SPEAKER_00: This is no easy sprint.
2:18
SPEAKER_00: We're in this for the long haul.
2:20
SPEAKER_00: This life race that we're in, it requires endurance.
2:24
SPEAKER_00: We don't quit, we persevere.
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SPEAKER_00: If we face plant, we get right back up again.
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SPEAKER_00: Hebrews 10.36 says,
2:32
SPEAKER_00: and this time I'm going to be reading out of the New American Standard Bible,
2:35
SPEAKER_00: 1995 update,
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SPEAKER_00: For you have need of endurance,
2:40
SPEAKER_00: so that when you have done the will of God,
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SPEAKER_00: you may receive what was promised.
2:45
SPEAKER_00: This life takes a lot of stamina, just like a race.
2:50
SPEAKER_00: Number four, run determined.
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SPEAKER_00: We got to keep our eyes focused on the prize.
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SPEAKER_00: After all, runners don't run backward.
2:59
SPEAKER_00: So leave the past behind you.
3:01
SPEAKER_00: Don't let your past become something that trips you up.
3:04
SPEAKER_00: Finishing the race requires that we're moving forward, always with the finish line in mind.
3:10
SPEAKER_00: After all,
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SPEAKER_00: Philippians 3 verses 13 and 14 says,
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SPEAKER_00: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which
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SPEAKER_00: are ahead,
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SPEAKER_00: I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
3:27
SPEAKER_00: Well, to end out,
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SPEAKER_00: This podcast, I came up with three bonus tips.
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SPEAKER_00: Number one,
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SPEAKER_00: if you're tasting the dirt that's flying off the racer shoes ahead of you,
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SPEAKER_00: you spit it out and keep going.
3:40
SPEAKER_00: There's always going to be times in life where other people are going to try to
3:43
SPEAKER_00: stick it to us,
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SPEAKER_00: but we got to keep going.
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SPEAKER_00: We don't let it get us down.
3:48
SPEAKER_00: And number two,
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SPEAKER_00: if someone heckles you as they're trying to pass you,
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SPEAKER_00: you know,
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SPEAKER_00: saying something like give up,
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SPEAKER_00: you're never going to make it.
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SPEAKER_00: You're too weak.
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SPEAKER_00: You brush it off and keep running.
4:01
SPEAKER_00: There are always those who are going to try to discourage us, but don't let them.
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SPEAKER_00: You keep going.
4:07
SPEAKER_00: And number three,
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SPEAKER_00: you're going to cross that finish line because you're running in God's strength,
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SPEAKER_00: not your own.
4:14
SPEAKER_00: God is the strength when we are weak.
4:19
SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to leave you with one of the most inspiring verses in the Bible,
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SPEAKER_00: in my opinion,
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SPEAKER_00: and I want it on my tombstone.
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SPEAKER_00: You'll recognize it.
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SPEAKER_00: It's second Timothy four verses seven and eight.
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SPEAKER_00: I have fought the good fight.
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SPEAKER_00: I have finished the race.
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SPEAKER_00: I have kept the faith.
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SPEAKER_00: Finally,
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SPEAKER_00: there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
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SPEAKER_00: which the Lord,
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SPEAKER_00: the righteous judge will give to me on that day.
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SPEAKER_00: I don't know about you, but that's what I want to say at the end of my life.
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SPEAKER_00: If you want more of my podcasts or written devotionals,
4:51
SPEAKER_00: check out my free Substack account at katedreston.substack.com.
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SPEAKER_00: Make it a great day, and thanks for listening.