There’s something about new shoes that leads a child to believe they can run faster. To run better. I was no exception to that. If I knew I’d be likely to find myself in a footrace, game of tag or other event that required my ability to run, you can bet your every dollar I would be wearing my best shoes for the occasion.
Although money was tight, I was fortunate to know what new shoes felt like while growing up. Of course, they didn’t make me run faster or jump higher. However they did install a feeling of confident ability.
They made me feel like I could run the race to win.
God knows you and he has equipped you. Chances are, he’s also given you a longing on your heart to serve him in ways that you are uniquely designed for. It’s time to say yes to God, embrace the gear of your new creation and get into the race. Run it to win!
Take Your New Shoes – and God – Out of the Box
Long-time readers of 1Glories, or anyone who has read Listen Up, Kids, knows about Manny Ohonme. He’s a Nigerian born visionary and leader of Samaritan’s Feet. He didn’t own a pair of tennis shoes until age nine. Those shoes were given to him by a missionary named Dave.
His new shoes on foot, he played basketball and later earned a scholarship to play in the United States while in college. He leveraged that into a successful career and did quite well for himself and his family. Yet, there was a nagging on his heart.
Manny longed to impact lives in his homeland and all around the world in much the same way Dave did in his. Finally, he went “all-in” following the admonishment of a prophetic and relative stranger who stated, you need to stop putting God in a box and start being obedient to what it is God wants you to do.
You can read more of Manny’s story here.
God Put Shoes on Your Feet – Get in the Race and Run the Race to Win
The sharing of that story and those words would again be prophetic years later when directed at someone else who was putting God off – yours truly. I was him-hawing around about 1Glories. Dabbling in little blogging efforts here and there. I knew God was had me set to run the race, but I refused to get in to really participate.
Even after I was convicted by Manny’s testimony, I resisted God. In fact, I resisted for four more years.
And then, I finally said yes.
I’d love to say everything has come easy since and that 1Glories has been a grand success. While there have been successes in terms of traffic, publishing and reach, there have been significant challenges and missteps along the way. That doesn’t mean I am any less convinced that God has called me to this effort, nor does it make the effort any less relevant to glorifying God.
You should maintain the same confidence in your own call.
Run the Race to Win
God know you (2 Corinthians 12:2). He has equipped you with the right footwear to march forth to do the work he’s called you to do.
One of the key roles of Biblical prophets is to seek to set things right. The prophet who spoke to Manny set him on his race. Manny, being prophetic in his own right, shot the starter pistol of my race. And I’m in it to win. Not to win for me and my glory, rather, to win for God and God’s glory.
God restores. That goes for the prompting in your heart as well.
Get in the race and run the race to win.