I'm here because of Him
I believe that in everything you do, the goal is to glorify God.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV)
I am a junior in high school and I just finished my fifth year of running cross country. It is clear as to why many people don't see how or why I do it, and honestly, I don't just adore running many miles everyday. My love for the sport comes from the lessons I've learned, goals I've reached, people I've met, and the things I've accomplished. Through the years of running cross country, I've always made God my first priority and I would pray to Him for comfort and strength, but this year I feel as though I've reached another level with God. I've always believed that everything should be done for God's glory, but this year I realized that I wasn't doing a very good job of glorifying Him and I felt that He deserves more. Yes, I might be thanking Him everyday when I pray, but I serve an unconditionally loving, forgiving, powerful God who never lets us go. That is why I made it my goal to glorify Him before, during and after every race. Before we ran every race, I would lead my team in prayer, asking that we would remember who we were running for, Jesus! During the race, I prayed to Him for strength and comfort. For motivation, I would think to myself, "If He sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins, I can do this one race for Jesus! The pain I am feeling right now is nothing close to compare with the suffering Jesus endured," and then, I would push harder. After, I would do my best to tell people what God did for me, because without Him, I honestly couldn't have done it. Then, as the season went on, my motivation got stronger, and I realized that the greater the accomplishment, the more people would listen to my story. And my goal was to get people to listen! My mindset was, "The more people knew about what God did for me, the more people might want a relationship with Him also."
I remember one morning, I woke up and I did not feel prepared for the race I had that day at all. I felt tired and stressed. Then, as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed that morning, I saw an image on my previous cross country coach's story that read, "Just know that every time you try to take steps for God the devil will do anything and everything to try to get you to quit. Just keep going, he can't stop you." I didn't know it before, but I knew at that moment that I was only feeling this way because the enemy did not like that I was glorifying God and, in result, getting closer to Him. I felt confident the rest of the day before my race that I didn't want the devil to win. I knew that winning the race and glorifying Jesus would only mean that I had defeated the devil. So when I crossed that finish line and received a gold medal around my neck, the joy was overwhelming. In addition to winning the cross country meet, I had won an even bigger battle that was taking place inside of me.
In conclusion, I won a total of six cross country meets this season, including being the district champion and I am so grateful for all that God has done in me and through me this year. I hope and pray this is an inspiration to you all.
"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 the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV)
I am a junior in high school and I just finished my fifth year of running cross country. It is clear as to why many people don't see how or why I do it, and honestly, I don't just adore running many miles everyday. My love for the sport comes from the lessons I've learned, goals I've reached, people I've met, and the things I've accomplished. Through the years of running cross country, I've always made God my first priority and I would pray to Him for comfort and strength, but this year I feel as though I've reached another level with God. I've always believed that everything should be done for God's glory, but this year I realized that I wasn't doing a very good job of glorifying Him and I felt that He deserves more. Yes, I might be thanking Him everyday when I pray, but I serve an unconditionally loving, forgiving, powerful God who never lets us go. That is why I made it my goal to glorify Him before, during and after every race. Before we ran every race, I would lead my team in prayer, asking that we would remember who we were running for, Jesus! During the race, I prayed to Him for strength and comfort. For motivation, I would think to myself, "If He sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins, I can do this one race for Jesus! The pain I am feeling right now is nothing close to compare with the suffering Jesus endured," and then, I would push harder. After, I would do my best to tell people what God did for me, because without Him, I honestly couldn't have done it. Then, as the season went on, my motivation got stronger, and I realized that the greater the accomplishment, the more people would listen to my story. And my goal was to get people to listen! My mindset was, "The more people knew about what God did for me, the more people might want a relationship with Him also."
In conclusion, I won a total of six cross country meets this season, including being the district champion and I am so grateful for all that God has done in me and through me this year. I hope and pray this is an inspiration to you all.
"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 the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
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