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LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, August 12, 2021

The race of Life is filled with hurdles. Galatians 5:7 says, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” We are tempted by multiple influences to change course.  People seek to influence us to see things from their perspective rather than God’s.  Government seeks to influence us to conform to their will and not God’s. We give circumstances the right to influence our decisions. We allow emotions to dictate our choices.  Life is filled with hindrances to running a faithful life with our eyes set firmly on the goal of faithfulness to Jesus and loving others.

There is a solution to the problem of hurdles. Stop looking at them.  Successful hurdle jumpers do not focus on the hurdle, but rather they keep their focus on the finish line. This morning I have been enjoying the sight of the finish line as I studied the forty-eighth Psalm.  It is a glorious picture of the power and protection of God against all enemies. With our eyes fixed on Him, we can conquer the hurdles and keep running the race marked out for us by Jesus Christ.    

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”  Psalm 48:1-14