Sue’s Views
12 Steps to a Good Year (by Derek Prince)
Step 9: Let Us Run With Endurance
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2)
In the original Greek, the first phrase, “lay aside every encumbrance,” is not in that form. Instead, it reads like this: “Laying aside every encumbrance, let us run with endurance the race.” The real “let us” phrase on which we need to focus is, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Here and elsewhere in the New Testament, the Christian life is compared to a race. This implies there is a specific course marked out for us in advance, and success in the Christian life consists in completing the course in accordance with the rules of the competition.
There are 4 requirements for a successful race:
1. Right Mental Attitude
2. Self Control
3. Endurance
4. Eyes Fixed on Jesus
