An Eternal Prize

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Well, I had a great devotional ready for today.  It was a perfect outline and really flowed well.  But when I went to save it, it disappeared.  So here I am stunned!  What should I do now?  The only thing I can think of is to offer a prayer up to the Lord.  Yes, I could go back and rewrite my devotional but I think I will just write my heart to you instead.

Here is my prayer to God…

Dear Father God,

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about my spiritual race.  Where am I at in this race?  Am I running with everything I’ve got?  Is there any sin that holds me back from fully running for You?  I see that I have the ability to throw off every sin and every thing that would try so easily to entangle me (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Lord, that’s what I choose to do.  I choose to throw off every sin.  I want to rid myself of the baggage I carry.
I lay my sins at the foot of the cross.  I lay down my pride and pray that You will humble me in Your sight.  I pray that I will decrease every day, so that You can increase in me.  May my life be more about you than anything else!  God help me to serve You with my talents and my gifts.  Help me not to take for granted all that I’ve been given.  Lord, I want to run.  I want to run hard after You!  I want to give you my all because You deserve my all.  I want my moments every day to matter.

Lord, You know my heart.  You know where I fall and where I need your help to get back up.  You know what weighs heavy on my mind.  You know the aches in my heart.  You know the needs that surround me.  You know every pain and every joy.  You know where my thoughts went today.  You know what things I said that weren’t honoring to you.  You know the times today when I did not serve you to the best of my ability.  God please help me to do better tomorrow.  Help me to do better even in this next minute!

God I remember when the new year began… my only goal for 2013 was to sin less.  I want my days to be filled with one less judgmental thought, one less careless word, one less disobedient moment, one less prideful moment, one less disagreement, one less moment of unforgiveness, one less moment of anxiety, one less moment of fear, one less moment of resentment, one less moment of greed, one less moment of impatience, and one less moment of self promotion.  I want my life to be filled with moments where I understand Your grace and sin less because of it.  I know that I will never be sinless on this earth, but I do feel that I can sin less every day.  God I want to strive to be more like Your Son!  I want to reflect His image in everything I do, say, and think.  God, I want you to be glorified in me!

Please strip me of every ounce of pride.  Please send me through your refiner’s fire and melt away every rough edge in me.  Please make me in to all that I can be for You.  I come to you Lord willing to be available for Your purpose.  God there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than You.  Please help me to never put my family, my husband, my son, my friends, my writing, my finances, my things, my home, and everything I have before You.  God may I not be blinded by the greed of this world.  Help me to remember that this world is passing away and it’s only the man that does your will who will live forever (1 John 2:17).

God, even as these tears steadily make their way down my face… I thank you because I know you hear my prayer.  I know You are bigger, better, and stronger than anything this world has to offer.  I’m yours God!  Completely yours!  Please continue your marvelous work in me.  Please melt away every ounce of me and help me to be a better reflection of Your Word.  May it be Your TRUTH that seeps out of my being,  may it be your words that proceed from my mouth, may it be your heart of love that comes alive in me, and may it be your purpose that prevails in my life!

Abba Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer and for being Lord over my life.  May every step I take in this race be honoring to You.  Please help me to run my race well, so that I can one day say… “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 1:7).  Help me fight the good fight, to finish the race, and keep the faith.  I’m all in!  I’m longing for the eternal prize that you have set aside for me in glory.  May I never lose sight of You and all that You have for me!

Running after You Lord,