The Animal That Most Inspires Me to Run the Race of Life With Passion and Purpose
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Photo by Oleg Ivanov on Unsplash
Do you want to run the race of life to the best of your abilities? When you get to the end, do you want to hear, “Well done!”?
I know I do, and I’m guessing you do too! Today I'm sharing a devotion* I wrote that I hope encourages you as you push forward in passionately pursuing your purpose. You can read it below.
Running to Win the Prize
Most dogs like to run, but I’ve never seen a dog run with more purpose and determination than a sled dog.
Sled dogs are born and bred for speed and endurance, and they love nothing more than to be harnessed to a sled and pull for all their worth. Once they hear the command "Hike!" their sole focus is on running as fast as they can in the direction their master signals.
Dog mushing a big sport in my home state of Alaska, and many mushers race their teams in local or international competitions, such as the Yukon Quest. When a musher is serious about winning the race, she puts her dogs through countless hours of physical training. She may also implement other conditioning, such as feeding the dogs a special diet. Everything the dogs do revolves around one goal: winning the race.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (NIV) Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly.”
Like a sled dog, and like the apostle Paul, I want to take my race seriously. I want to maintain a firm grasp of what I was born for, and I want to passionately pursue that with everything in me. Doing so requires keeping my attention on God’s voice and direction. It means subjecting myself to training and the sharpening of the gifts He’s given me. It means letting go of anything that might detract or distract from my ability to push onward into what He is calling me to.
I want to run my race in such a way to win the prize. And at the end of the race, I want to hear my master say, “Well done!”
What has God called you to in this season of life? Are you training for your race and running with purpose and perseverance? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
With love,
*This devotion was originally published @joyfullifemagazine.
Check out this fun clip to see a glimpse of how excited sled dogs are to run! (And a glimpse of my hometown of Fairbanks!)
P.S.
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P.S.
I wrote this post because I’m on a mission to encourage and equip women to live the life of faith, passion, and purpose that we were made for. You can help make a difference by sharing this post with a friend (or friends!) who you think would be encouraged or inspired by it. Thanks!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, with no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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