Spiritual Cheerleaders

"Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (Hebrews 12:1-2 The Message).

As I was reading the above scripture this morning, I started to think about the times I had felt weary, faint hearted and just wanted to give up, but thank God His Word was and is deep within my heart and Jesus gently coached me to carry on. He held up my feeble arms, and reminded me of what He did at Calvary. So, if today you are feeling as if you just can't go on and want to throw your arms up in the air and give up, just know, Jesus has already laid the path for you and is lighting your way - remember the promises He has made to you.

The enemy would love nothing more than to see one of God's children turn around, give up and walk away from the promises of God: he is the one who puts the self-doubt in your mind and constantly reminds you of your past. However God says, "He forgives all our iniquity, heals all our diseases, He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us, and His steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His Kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103 paraphrased). When we feel ourselves dragged down by the things of the world all we have to do is remember what Christ did for us and know that He has gone ahead of us and the battle has been won: "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

In the E.S.V. translation of Hebrews 12:1 it says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". We are not alone on this path; we also have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, those who have gone before us, in this race which is a race of endurance. They are like the spectators cheering on the athletics along the way as they run a marathon through towns and villages, over mountains and across valleys to the finish line, never giving up and never giving in. These are the mighty men and women of the past of they could be people in your church, ones whose faith never wavered in the midst of the strongest adversity as their focus was on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

There is hope, there is strength, there is peace, there is joy, there is healing in Christ, He has made our way through the desert and will bring us through the fire. If there is any doubt that you cannot make it another day or you have become so weary that even your hands drop down, just know Jesus has already made a way. He loves you so much that He endured the shame of the cross and died an excruciating death, He has heard your prayers and has made your way straight, He is right there with you holding you close, call on His Name, call on the name of Jesus, for He is more than able to carry all your burdens and heal your broken heart as there is nothing too hard for our God.