– Scripture:

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

                     Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG

– Reflection:

                  Proving Mode

When you know you’re created in the image of God, you won’t live in a proving mode, trying to impress people, getting your value out of what they think. You don’t need their applause. To have them cheering you on is nice, but if that’s your source of worth, you’ll feel devalued when they quit doing it. You’ll have to work harder to impress them. It’s an exhausting treadmill.

Where do we go from here?

Take the pressure off. You have nothing to prove. Your job is not to win other people’s approval or applause; your job is to run the race that God has planned for you. Your value should come from who you are, not what you do and not what you have. If not, there will always be a voice saying, “You don’t measure up. You need to be stronger, skinnier, taller, wealthier, more talented, better.” No matter what you do or what you become, it’s never going to be enough. It’s very freeing when you understand that you don’t have to prove to others that you’re good enough.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that You created us in Your image and have given our lives such amazing value. Thank You that we can get off the treadmill of proving ourselves to others because we don’t have to prove anything to anyone. We’re going to run our race and live to please You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.