PROMISES FOR WINNING RUNNERS

Jack Davis

In Philippians four our Apostle Paul was inspired to make known to the “lovers of the race” a peace, power and full provision to make us successful runners. These each are available by and through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are secured, sustained and abundantly supplied. The peace is offered to preserve us, the power energizes us to persevere, and the whole provision enables to prevail. We note that this peace is incomprehensible, and beloved, the provision is exhaustless. We do well to consider Philippians 4:7,13,19, and appropriate.

PRESERVING PEACE

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7.

Shall we obey God’s wonderful Word to our benefit? Has He make it possible for us to be “careful” (mental uneasiness arising from fear) for nothing, “prayerful” about all things, and “thankful” in everything? It seems to me that fretfulness is forgetfulness of God’s faithfulness. He cares for us, shall we not carry our care to Him in prayer? How else shall we realize such marvelous peace?

It is only by faith that we may come to understand, how something we can’t understand is able to keep our hearts and minds. We are not asked to count on our reasoning faculties, but to simply submit our request in prayer with thanksgiving, expecting from His exhaustless supply. Paraphrased, “entertain no worry.” We may either occupy our minds with our problems or rely on His person.

We are so blessed to have His invitation to tell Him every detail, under all circumstances, and then begin to enjoy His promised preservation. His peace, which transcends all powers of reason, is deeper than any depth of understanding, far surpasses any measure of human comprehension, shall mount guard as with a garrison our hearts and minds. Let us consider for a moment, our entering into His protection for our minds.

KEEP OUR MINDS

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa. 26:3

Well, where else could we find such a perfect keeper? He has kept us, does keep us, and shall forever keep us by His power. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me to dwell in safety. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalms 4:8: 127:1-2; 121:2-3. Our adversary would always stir up the religious flesh to keep us in a state of turmoil. If He that keeps us doesn’t sleep, shouldn’t we take our needed rest? Self-righteous, self-neglect and self-abuse does not bring any honor to God, nor does it make us any more secure. Col. 2:21-23. In fact, getting our minds on ourselves greatly unsettles us.

“The LORD us thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:5,7,8. Oh, what grace for those stepping out on His promises, and entering into their blood-bought inheritance!

With such powerful promises we are encouraged to have our minds stayed on Him. By this word “stay,” He would reach us to lean upon, take hold of, be sustained and supported by Him It seems so easy for us to get uneasy, cumbered about and troubled about many things. But we are comforted greatly to count on His power. It wonderfully alleviates our fears to rely on His promises. We seem to settle down in spirit often as we rejoice in His Provision, but oh, to be stayed upon this glorious Person. The Prince of Peace.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “…to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” Rom. 8:6. Thank God, we may have the mind of Christ, the same attitude of heart.

We, who are begotten unto a lively or living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and are kept by the power of God, are admonished to gird up the loins of our mind, by sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought…at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Pet. 1:3,5,13. Putting up faith’s shield, we ward off the fiery darts of the wicked, shot at our minds. Knowing Him in whom we have believed, we also are “persuaded that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day.” Our minds are stayed on Him as we count only on His keeping power.

We have been given the helmet of salvation. We have the authority and privilege to bring our thoughts into captivity to the mind of Christ. II Cor. 10:5.

Oh,, let us put on this helmet and not allow our minds to run out of gear or rampant, but rather let our minds be geared to the Word of God, harnessed to His promises, being sober or in spiritual control.

What could we do to deserve such keeping? How can we earn our keep? Nothing, we cannot. Jesus made peace by the blood of His cross, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and because we have “trusted in him,” He is our peace. How else could we possibly realize or experience “His Peace.”

KEEP OUR HEARTS

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:1,27.

The only tranquility that the world has to offer would be dependant on the right circumstances, or ideal conditions, but that which Jesus give is His, the product of the New Life, and a fruit of the Spirit. With His peace protecting our hearts, we are enabled to walk without fear on the more troubled waters.

“…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” Col. 3:15.

“Let” – This is where most of us fail in experiencing the sweet benefits of this grace in our lives. Submission and thankfulness certainly play an important part in our practical enjoyment of this precious tranquility that flows like a river from the throne of God. As we submit to this as a ruling principle in our hearts and lives, we allow His peace to act as umpire, decide all doubts, settle all questions.

In order to be a successful runner over the whole course, we must not allow unscriptural tensions to waste our energies and sap our strength.