IN THIS EPISODE

• No one usually one for visual aids | Preaching on Hebrews 12 | 2:57
• We all have been marked for our own race, how is yours going?  | 4:15
• Are you familiar with the Hoyt Team?  | 8:10
• A few Keys to being someone of Valor/having a heart of Valor | The things that matter to my heart | 9:35
• Hold on to God’s goodness, even when you’re faced with shaky circumstances and foreign lands  | 18:55
• Prone to wander, Lord I feel it  | 22:45
• Corrie Ten Boom and this generation’s Corrie ‘Six’ Boom  | 29:03

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | FINISH WELL

We each have been marked for a race by the greatest coach of all time: Our Father! We don’t know if this race is a 50-yard dash or if it’s an ultra marathon, but we’re each running a race. A race that is marked for us! And the best thing is that our course has already been laid out for us, and we can control how we run and how we finish the race. We have to have an ache in our bones to finish the race well. The truth that Sharon wants to drive home in the message about our race is this:

The truth of finishing well doesn’t impact us, “way out yonder” in the future it should impact how we live today!

2 | DEFINE YOUR PASSION

A passion in your life is a thing that causes you to move to the edge of your seat, can bring you to tears, can light up your face, can cause you to raise your voice or even pound your fist! You go to bed thinking about it and wake up and it’s the first think on your mind; it will move you to action! It is so important for us to realize what God has gifted to us, and seize that for his glory. Passion is not so much an emotion you feel, but rather a foundation that you live your life from. It is knowing Him and knowing His word! What raises your voice? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Are you currently chasing it?

3 | LISTEN TO OUR CAPTAIN’S CALL

We shouldn’t be the same person now that we were 5 years, 1 year, or even 1 month ago! When we look back, and look forward, our walk with our Father should be changing us, changing our hearts. There should be more peace, more humility and gentleness, more of a willingness to serve, and more boldness and as we receive the characteristics of Christ. We press forward, we should want to change, and be different, as we become better reflections of Him. As we finish our races and push into them, we should welcome these changes. Why? Because we have seen his hand faithful for that many more years, through that many more trials. We have seen ourselves trip up that many more times, and His grace seems that much bigger!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. | John 16:33

4 | HE IS LOVINGLY IN CONTROL

Just remember, that we serve a sovereign, loving God! He is lovingly in control of our race, and the circumstances that constantly surround us. Louis Giglio has a great quote when he says, “This great ‘star breathing God’ fashioned you and wove you together… and He says He will hold you in His hand and carry you all the days of your life.” How are we responding to that? Are we marching forward with a Heart of Valor? Are we confident in the God we believe in, and are we convicted that he is able to guard what we have entrusted to him until the very end? Take comfort in who is our coach. Take comfort in a God that wants us by His side when it is all said and done.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. | Isaiah 46:4

SHOW NOTES

Hebrews 12:1b states that there is a race marked out for us.

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. | Hebrews 12:1

Before we were even born, even when we were still in our mother’s womb, it was marked out for us! Join us today as our own Sharon Sands shares with our Mission Hills Staff what it looks like to run your race with courage and power. No one can run your race for you so today we want to ask the question, “How is your race going?”.