Second wind

Finishing our race strong is determined by a whole bunch of different things that we have been looking at over the last few weeks. It is easy to look at it all and think, “How can I do this? Is it even possible to do this?” Whenever we are overwhelmed, we need to count it as a blessing. Being overwhelmed is a reminder that we need God. The biggest part of finishing our God race strong is learning to lean on God.  

Zechariah 4:6 says, “Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The word in there for force in the King James version is the word “might” which is translated from the Hebrew word, Chayil meaning, “strength, might, ability, efficiency, wealth, army or force”. How amazing is that? God says it’s not by force that we get to finish our God race, it is not by our ability, because if it was then we could all sit at the start line and cry as to why it is not fair and how we will never make it because we all lack in one area or another.

It is not by efficiency. It is not how quickly you can read the bible from cover to cover, it’s how much of the bible is getting in you and how much your life is reflecting the truths that are revealed in its pages. It is not by wealth. Rich or poor, we all have equal standing. It is definitely not by force. We cannot force our way to heaven, neither can we earn it (might).

The word strength is translated from the Hebrew word kôach kôach, which can be translated to mean human strength. So right there, God is telling us not to try doing things in our own human strength.  He says that it is by His Spirit. The word translated for “Spirit” in that verse is the Hebrew words rûach, which means, wind or breath and it is also used for the Holy Spirit.

For us to be able to run our God race, we need to have the wind of God pushing us forward and the breath of God filling us with life anew with every step. We need the Holy Spirit. We can try do life on our own, but very soon we come to the place where we realise that we are running around in circles and we are trapped in the same cycles and nothing seems to be changing and we don’t seem to be moving forward.

When this happens, it is not a sign to quit or give up. It is an invitation to take inventory and see where we have been trying to force our way through, where we have been relying on our ability. It is time to take the opportunity to see where we think money will solve all our problems because it doesn’t. It does not solve all our problems here on earth and it does not guarantee us a spot in heaven for eternity. It is a useful tool but we cannot rely on it as it comes and goes.  

Running our God race and finishing well is all about recognising our need for God. Recognising that we need a Savior and understanding that we have help. In John 14:15-17 Jesus said, “Loving me empowers you to obey my commands.  And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you. The world won’t receive him because they can’t see him or know him. But you know him intimately because he remains with you and will live inside you.” The word used for Savior is the Greek word, “paráklētos”, which can be translated as a “defense attorney.” It means “one called to stand next to you as a helper.”

We do not need to strive to run our God race, we need to lean into the Holy Spirit and trust Him to help us along the way.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano