It’s not uncommon to walk into the new year with a strong feeling of transition pulling on your sleeve. These tugs and pushes are simple signs that God may be trying to pull you towards what’s next in your life. Many people have a vision of where they want to go or where they believe God is leading them. Yet, plans can easily go astray and future intentions can get lost amid the busyness of life. This can lead the soul to become discouraged; a heavy feeling that we have all endured at some point in our lives. Despite this, God has set out a race before each one of us. This race is known as the race of your life. The Living Bible translation says, “and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” This specific race that God has designed for you enables you to run to find, fulfill, and follow the will of God for your future. Most importantly, it allows you to push forward through the many obstacles that may be in your way and find the will of God in your life.
Four Steps to Running the Race of Your Life
Step 1: Get in the Race
Before you begin running in the race, you have to be willing to get yourself to the starting blocks. Your willingness to learn all that you can learn and become all that you can become is going to be the key motivator in getting you there. I can’t promise that fear won’t creep in at the beginning, but you need to be present in the race that is at hand if you want to win the prize. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.” If you step up to the race with a strong heart and a clear mind, your certainty will allow you to run the race God has for you. Each one of our races is unique, and it’s not promised that we won’t run into resistance and challenges.
Step 2: Persist in the Face of Resistance
If no has told you yet, you’re going experience failure in your life. There will be times when things don’t go according to plan and life seems to be working at odds against you. At the end of the day, you’re human and humans are not perfect. Luckily, in the race of your life, God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
You will face resistance in this life, but you can overcome it with the grace of God. I want you to take a minute to think of the ways in which God has been preparing you. Maybe you experienced great difficulties this past year. However, you are here today because you persisted and did not give up at the first sign of difficulty. The strength and determination you exemplify will move you into the fullness of what God has planned for your life.
Step 3: Order over Perfection
Sometimes our brain plays tricks on us. It allows us to believe that we are not good enough or not worthy enough to take the next daunting step in our lives. Perfectionism is the fear that holds us back. Yet, we know in Christ we have been made perfect in the righteousness of God. He believes in our growth and in our improvement. He expects our mistakes and encourages us to get back on our feet after we’ve been knocked down.
What I’m trying to tell you is that it is okay to make mistakes. As long as you have order in your life. There are five primary areas in your life that require order so you can prosper. I call them the “Five F’s,” family, feelings, faith, friends, and finances. Order means that you’re not overly distracted in any one of these five areas. It means finding balance through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Step 4: Promote Growth
Personal growth is a universal human need. I say this so strongly because, without growth, we are unable to drive ourselves towards personal improvement. Our growth is vital because it influences our future success and happiness. I’m drilling the importance of this into you because I know that most people live and die in a non-growth environment, as said by John Maxwell. When people get too comfortable with their lifestyles, they refrain from improving themselves. Not only does working on improving yourself benefit your wellbeing, but it also positively affects the people around you! Your life is made up of a sequence of little moments. It’s your job to promote your self-development and put yourself in the best place for future success!
I’ve been looking forward to this January not just because it’s the new year, but also because I will be releasing my brand new book, Leadership Mastery, on January 21, 2020! What’s better than walking into the new year confident in your ability to become the leader you are meant to be? If God is calling you towards leadership in your life and you would like to learn how to grow your capacity to lead yourself, others, and your organization, then you can preorder Leadership Mastery today with this link. One of the greatest gifts this life has given me is the ability to teach others. If you decide to read Leadership Mastery, thank you!
