RULE #4 Be patient while running your kingdom race! The G.O.A.T. (aka) Jesus ran the race flawlessly and the Message paraphrase of Hebrews 12:1 summed up his performance perfectly, “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” While patiently enduring earthly trials, our faith is strengthened.

And when our faith becomes weak, we should take time to read all of God’s promises to heal and deliver us. In our long-suffering, we can take confidence in the hope of the future before us and get back up when we stumble and keep running the race with grit, patience and faith because God will see you to and at the finish line—the Kingdom of God.