Fight the good fight for the true faith. - 1 Timothy 6:12
It was my freshman year in high school. Our basketball team was down by twenty points, but we were still fighting for a win. We were in the closing minutes of the final quarter, and people in the stands started to leave because they thought the game was over. But our coach reminded us, “It ain’t over until the clock says zero.”
There’s a lot of truth to my coach’s statement. It’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish. Maybe your life didn’t start fantastic, or it isn’t going well right now. If you’re living and breathing right now, you still have time to finish strong.
Finishing solid means staying faithful until the end. Remaining loyal to God, our family, and doing the very thing God has called you to do.
The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. This means we need endurance if we are going to finish well.
There are a lot of people counting on you. Your spouse, kids, coworkers, friends, and strangers you haven’t met yet. One of the best gifts we can give the people in our lives is the gift of finishing strong. Too many have been shot down with discouragement, and as a result, they have stopped running the race. They have given up on their families, God, and themselves.
Regardless of your start, the good news is, the game is not over. So don’t throw in the towel just yet. So how do we finish well? Here are a few ideas:
- Seek to know Jesus first above doing things for him. Keeping our hearts close to Jesus is key to finishing well. If our focus is on doing things for God, we will drift into tasks instead of falling in love with him every day. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
- Fight good fights. There are some fights in this life that are foolish. Choose your battles wisely. So, what are some good fights? Fight for your purity, for your family unity, and fighting the enemy’s lies with God’s word. These are fights worth fighting. Don’t let the enemy distract you from fighting the wrong battles.
- Walk in the light. Yes, we are to live our lives out of a transparent, vulnerable place. Secret sins will kill your passion for God! Walk in the light. Confess regularly with God and a trusted friend. This will keep you from stumbling.
Many have started the Christian life. The question remains- Will we finish well?
Dig Deeper
- Where are you struggling to finish strong in your life?
- What areas of your life need to come into the light?
- To finish strong, we need to keep our hearts close to Jesus. What are two ways you can keep your heart close to Jesus this week?
8 Prayers for Strength
We live in a world that tells us that we can do anything we set our mind to. Many people go their entire lives believing that we should be able to do things in our own strength. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus gives the parable of the wise and the foolish builders. Jesus is essentially saying in this passage that we need to build our lives upon him, the only foundation that will allow us to withstand the storms of this life.
Imagine a child proudly presenting a sandcastle he has made to his parents. It may seem indestructible in his limited perspective, but his parents know that it will be knocked down with the first wave that hits it. While God has so much grace for us with these ‘sandcastles’ we present to Him, Jesus invites us to build our lives upon the solid foundation of Himself instead of wearing ourselves out.
Here are 8 Scripture-based prayers to help you walk in the Lord’s strength today.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
- Deuteronomy 31:8
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
– Colossians 3:1
I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
– Philippians 4:12-13
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
– Matthew 11:28
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
– John 15:25
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
– Isaiah 40:31
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
– Hebrews 12:1-2
