"And He was saying to all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross every day, and let him follow Me." Luke 9:23 BLB
On Friday, Ryan Hall, an outspoken Christian and considered the fastest American marathoner, announced his retirement from professional running. Although he had many coaches throughout his career, famed coach Jack Daniels "has known Hall since high school and has served as a consistent sounding board for him." When asked what accounted for Hall's success, he said this, " He has the perfect body for distance running and he had the desire to do it." He went on to say that, "With those two things, you’re going to go a long way."
When it comes to going a long way and achieving success in our walk with Christ, the same two things are needed.... the perfect body and the desire. Since Psalm 139:14 tells us that we all "are fearfully and wonderfully made", you and I clearly have the perfect body to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him. But the question is, do we have the desire? Jesus tells us that, "If anyone desires to come after Me... let him follow me." In other words, the race to the cross starts with the desire to enter it.
Perhaps today you've lost your desire to take up your cross? To follow Jesus? Or maybe it has been replaced by the desires of the world? If you answered yes, it's desperate time for a heart check my friend because, as George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it." What's your desire today?
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us even when we don't follow you the way that we should. Help us to renew our desire and commitment to daily deny ourselves and take up the cross. Lord, help us to purge any desire not in line with your's out of our hearts, minds and lives. May nothing come between us as we run to you each and every day. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Yearn - Shane and Shane
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