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1 Corinthians 9:24: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We all have a race to run in our lives. I particularly love these scriptures as an endurance athlete. I write this in a different perspective as my wife Sarah is on the eve of her first marathon. I have watched her growth over the last four years. The training that went into the point at which we are today is noteworthy and impressive. I have watched her transform from aimless to razor sharp focus. Mile after painstaking mile is logged and remembered. I have had the pleasure of witnessing this over the years and specifically the last sixteen months of hardcore training. I have run with her on short distances, and cheered her on loudly. I have heard all about the victories and set backs.
I am fully vested in seeing her succeed. I believe in her. She is the real deal. I trust that she will get through the marathon because I have witnessed the focus, and the sweat, and the tears.
There will be spectators watching what we do as Christians as well. There will be days of endurance, and days of victory. There will be days that make us cry, and days that bring shouts of joy. The one thing that I know, people will watch us to see if we are the real deal. We don't have to be perfect, we just have to be committed to this race, and God will do the rest.
Nothing can fully prepare you for what you may not know on race day. Leading up to the race, Sarah had symptoms of a nasty chest cold, a couple of barely hanging on toenails, and some other attacks from the enemy that she didnt expect a couple of days before the big event.
There can be a strong sense of anxiety and fear that comes over us right before we go into a big event in life. We can question our preparedness and whether we have what it takes to do what God called us to do.
The most amazing part of what happens is that when God calls us to do something, He is faithful to see us through it. No matter what we may face, He led us there, He will take us through it with peace that surpasses all understanding.
You dont have to run a marathon to train for the prize that God has for us, but being aware and having a goal, and aim through God will prepare us for all things.
The thing about faith is that we can prepare everyday for anything, but it is ultimately God who takes us to the finish line. We can never truly prepare for all things we may face, but we must trust in doing everything we have control over and leaving the hard work in the hands of the Lord. The prize in already won brothers and sisters, the prize is in each of us from Jesus Christ.
I know Jesus is at work in all of us and I see it in the logged miles, sweat, tears of my wife who with perseverance is running the race set before her right now.