Morning Devotional
October  6, 2005
"A Good Race" (Part 6)     
    by Don Emmitte

God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:8-11 NLT).

 

Running your race well is not just about your race. How those around us run their race is also a part of our running well. This is especially true with our family. I don’t want to indicate that we are to run their race for them. However, we are to be a part of their support and encouragement to run well also. This is the basis for Paul’s writing in our reading this morning. Paul wanted his disciples to exhibit Christ in their life, giving glory and praise to God. That’s a great prayer for the people in your life and for yourself.

 

You wouldn’t need to know very much about me to know that I am so proud of my family. My wife is an intelligent, beautiful woman, so capable and dependable. She does so much at home and does a wonderful job with her work. My boys are so successful in their lives. They are all different in their successes. Some have been academic, some athletic, and others in their social life. Both Kyle and David have found wonderful soul mates to make their journey with. Brandy and Becca are incredible ladies. And, then there are Faith and Logan, my grandchildren. They are now 22 months old. It seems like yesterday when they were born. Their growth and development is a constant surprise to me.

 

I am confident that they will continue to grow in their abilities in the world. More than that however, I pray God continues to expand their hearts for God and others. I pray God fills them with those things, which last for eternity. I pray their life brings great glory to God. I want their life (and mine) to have eternal significance. That’s just one of the ways that I can help them run their race too!

 

Who are you praying for in your life? Are you daily praying for a spouse, children, parents, friends and/or relatives? It’s great to pray for their physical life; that God would bless them financially or give them great health. It is far more important, however, that God blesses them spiritually. The things of this earth will pass away, but those things done for and by Christ will go into eternity. Pray for eternal treasures in your life and in the lives of those you love. Spend a little time today praying specifically for them. Then write them a little note and tell them of your prayers!