THE RACE

ISAIAH 40:30-31 (TCEB)
Even the young will fail,
Collapsed, with nothing left inside.
But if you trust in God
You get a second wind.
You catch a breeze, a lift, and sail on
Like an eagle in the sky.
You run your race with energy.
You walk and you never get tired.

HEBREWS 12:1-2 (TCEB)
   Take a hard look at this crowd. They’re watching us. We’ve got a race to run. Let’s strip down and get going. Take off everything that slows you. Peel away every sin that distracts you. This is a marathon, so get ready for the long run.
   Focus on Jesus. He wrote the book on faith. He’s the one who will refine our faith to perfection. He willingly suffered on the cross. He didn’t care about the shame of it. He knew he was racing toward joy. He’s sitting now beside God’s throne, in the seat of greatest honor.

THE ESSENCE
The stamina we have for running life's race so well comes from keeping our focus on Jesus, who has already finished the race in unbeatable time. 

DAILY FODDER
How do you keep your focus on Jesus, minute by minute, when there is so much demanding your attention? How do you do it? 

PRAYER
Lord who provides, I need you to renew my strength. When the race is long and I rely on my own strength, I fall. With Jesus as my goal, help me persevere, knowing when and how to serve. Guide me to rest in hopeful expectation, trusting that Jesus will make all things right. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GOD CARE

DEUTERONOMY 8:7 (TCEB)
The LORD your God is escorting you to a wonderful land. You’ll see streams of water flowing down the hills and into the valleys. You’ll see fountains there, gushing up out of the underground springs.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 (TCEB)
God is kind and absolutely able to give you everything you need—all the time and in every situation. He can help you take care of yourself and others who are depending on you.

THE ESSENCE
God provides all we need to care for ourselves and others.  

DAILY FODDER
How does it benefit God, if at all, to provide so much? 

PRAYER
Gracious God, it's a part of your nature to care so well. I'm blessed to be under your care. I regret that at times I elevate my wants to the need level. Help me to trust that you know exactly what I need and when. I'm eager to share your blessings with others. I'm not worried about depleting your blessings warehouse. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

ARMOR UP IN COURAGE

JOSHUA 1:9 (TCEB)
Here are your orders. Be strong. Armor up in courage.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:9-10 (TCEB)
I kid you not, I felt like someone had sentenced me to death. That’s when I decided to let go. I stopped trusting in myself. I started trusting in the God who can raise the dead. He saved us from the brink of death. He’ll keep on rescuing us. We’re counting on him to save us once again.

THE ESSENCE
Our collective past history with God strongly suggests that we have good reason to act courageously when facing opposition. 

DAILY FODDER
This is the kind of courage rooted in trust of God rather than some kind of personal inner strength or self-confidence. 

PRAYER
My source of strength, you have commanded me to be strong and courageous, yet too often I rely on my own strength instead of yours. In times of despair, you have been my rescuer, delivering me repeatedly. When I do not have the answers, help me move forward with faith, relying on you as my true source of strength. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

DRINK!

ISAIAH 55:1 (ABP)
Hey, everyone who's thirsty should come. Here's drinking water!

JOHN 6:35 (ABP)
Jesus said, "Whoever puts their trust in me will never get thirsty."

THE ESSENCE
When we accompany Jesus through life we never have to worry about getting thirsty.  

DAILY FODDER
Why is physical thirst used so often in the Bible as a powerful metaphor for spiritual neediness? 

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm thankful that I don't need to worry about either physical or spiritual thirst. You take good care of me. But I confess that I don't drink enough of the water you so freely supply. I can't be bothered to pause throughout the day to drink. And frankly, I often just forget — until I get dangerously thirsty. Remind me to take frequent small sips so I can stay hydrated. I'm trusting that you will meet all my needs because that's the kind of God you are. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.