Determined Course...the course of Your commandments

…I will hold fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Philippians 2:16 "Running, like living, is alternately easy, and hard, good and bad, exciting and boring.  It is made up of long periods of dreadful sameness interrupted by brief moments of pure exhilaration."-
John "the Penguin" Bingham

Living the Christian life comes down to the determination we have to stay with God regardless. Day in and day out we have to put our minds attention and heart affections on the Word of God. However, we are chronically addicted to our own ways and want to draw out the map ourselves. David has shown us that the course to choose is God’s, not our own:

·      I Choose … ways of truth … deliberate choice … choose this day!

·      I Set … judgments before … purposeful choosing …

·      Hold Fast … testimonies …not stuck with it … but stuck to it!

I have four courses that I run for different mileage.  When I run my three mile course I run out an old country road to where the black top ends.  I then turn around and run back to my house to complete the three mile course.  When running that course I don't cross fences and run wildly through the field looking to chase cattle and spook up deer or other wild life.  Why?  That's not my intended course … not to mention I might get shot! Make no mistake - the path
of your race will not be straight and void of obstacles. No, this is an obstacle course marathon! There will be fences to cross and animals that may suddenly appear.  You may even get fired upon.  But God will give you the endurance and strength you need to dodge the obstacles, jump the fences and finish the race. 
I have discovered in my running . . . "The longer I run the course the closer I get to home."  Let God and His Word be your determined course to run. Set the course and run with purpose toward the goal.

A Declared Result. . . You shall enlarge my heart

"The miracle isn't that I finished.  The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
- John "the Penguin" Bingham

Getting started is the hardest part of running but finishing is the most rewarding part. There is nothing like the rush of crossing the finishing line, no matter how long the race.  In our spiritual run, Satan can hinder our start.  He wants us to believe we can’t make it, that we don’t have what it takes to cross that finish line. Sin narrows us and causes us to fail to ever start but God enlarges us to live and run free in His truth.  David comes to God with an affirmation of the mind and an affection of the heart:

God will … affirmation of the mind

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

The Bible affirms that God will … provide … be with you … bless … hear … deliver … and fight for you.  Declare them as God willed results in your life.

Enlarge my heart … affection of the heart

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

David realizes that if he is to have an enlarged horizon (seeing beyond himself), he must first have an enlarged heart. His desire is to live for God.  Can we declare to God, "Enlarge my desire and let me run in Your Word!"

Therefore: The goal before us is not to think about "finishing" but "to start."  It would be foolish on my part to start thinking about finishing a marathon (26.2 miles) … but not so foolish to start training to finish a marathon.
Scripture to Claim:
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  1 Corinthians 9:24