RUN TO WIN
Scriptures For Meditation: 2Tim 2:1-4; 1Cor 9:24-27
2Ti 2:1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
2Ti 2:3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
2Ti 2:5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

The theme of this month’s fasting and prayers is Standing Strong In The Lord and Finishing The Race.
More than at any other time that most people can remember especially over the last century, the events of the few months have shaken the foundation of their faith.
People’s faith in humanity has seen a battering with the evil tendencies of man against his fellow man being exposed in despicable acts of racism and wanton violence all across the globe.
Many are finding and lending their voice in protest and social action to try and address the situation, and many are turning the searchlight on the church, finding faults and cracks, and then questioning the reason or even the need for its existence, or for their continued affiliation with it.
Friend, this sentiment may be closer home than you think. The struggles and pressures that the events of 2020 have wreaked on people emotionally, financially, physically and socially, have had great spiritual consequences that are beginning to take a toll on their faith or walk with God. Many are simply exhausted and overwhelmed!
We will do well to remember Paul’s charge to his protege and son in the Lord, Timothy, in our scripture reading for today.
Stay Strong In His Grace
First, Paul admonishes Timothy to continue with the work the Lord had commissioned him to do. That my friend, is also God’s first charge to you in these times that we are in. You must continue diligently and steadfastly in the work that God has put in your hands to do —
Be strong in the Lord through the grace that you have in Christ Jesus.
Endure Hardship
Then Paul encourages him to endure the hardship that was inevitable in his walk with God. He uses the analogy of the attitude of a model soldier to put his charge across.
We must also remember this as believers —
Hardship is part and parcel of our Christian walk which we must endure and push through, as we serve in the Lord’s vineyard.
Disentangle Yourself, Stay Focused
Next, Paul cautions Timothy that as a soldier of Christ, he must not be so entangled or immersed in worldly affairs and sentiments, that he loses focus on his core assignment. This is so that he may please the Lord who has called and enlisted him into His army.
Compete To Win
And finally, Paul drives home his point by reminding him that he must compete to win. You don’t get any prizes for just showing up and participating —
You must endure to the end and compete in accordance to the rules to win the prize!
Change Your Clothes
My dear friend, you’ve come too far to give up or draw back now.
It’s time to take off your civilian attire and put your war clothes back on! There’s a battle to be fought and a victory to be claimed. The war has already been won for us on the cross of Calvary. Hallelujah!
The Captain of the Lord’s Host is leading you into battle; Jehovah Sabbaoth is raising His standard over you —
You will not die on the battle field neither will you be vanquished By the enemy.
Stay The Course!
Just stay strong and endure and you will experience the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus!
Shalom,
Pastor Wale Ola
PRAYER FOCUS
Ask God for a fresh supply of His grace to walk the walk and to do the work He has commissioned you to do.
Ask Him to show you the areas of your life where you may have become entangled or distracted by the “affairs of the world”.
Dedicate those areas and those things to Him, and ask Him to give you the grace to fully yield them up to Him.
Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit to bring the necessary changes and implement the adjustments to address and correct the lapses.
Pray for the grace not just to participate and show up, but to run in alignment with the demands of your calling and His assignment, for your life, and to complete the race and win the prize in Jesus’s Name.
Amen.
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