.
I have this song running through my head, you know the kind you hear and
can’t get out of your mind. Sometimes it is a nescience but this time it is
a blessing. The song “What Faith Can Do” by Kutlass. Reminds me that there
is always hope if we remain faithful. Greetings in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Like many things in life there is a progression. In racing we start at
the entry level, gain experience and move up to more powerful racecars. When
we master the car we progress up to faster racetracks. It would be dangerous
for someone who has never driven a race car to climb into a tour modified
and think they can compete with the top drivers.
Life has its own progression, we learn to stand, and then we walk and
finally learn to run. We watch the progression take place, each in its own
time. We need to learn one before we can pursue the other. The recently held
Olympics shows us where a lifetime dedication to the pursuit of progression
can lead. You don’t become world class without starting somewhere. I think
the Jamaicans learned that with their bobsled team.
In our walk with Christ there are some things that happen in a certain
order. God is a God of order. In His word he helps us understand the
progression of things. First is the notion of hope. Hope is a positive word.
It looks toward the future, better things to come. Greater days ahead. Hope
helps us move through the difficult times. Hope helps us maintain a
positive, progressive outlook on life.
Hope doesn’t stand on its own though. Hope without something to hope in
is false hope. You have heard the saying, “If we keep doing the same things
expecting different results we will go nuts!” If we place our hope in
something or someone who is not able to provide we have set ourselves up for
failure.
There are many stories in racing that support this fact. Many a driver,
team or owner has hoped for things only to be disappointed. Our hope has to
be placed in someone or something that has the power to change things. Think
of the upcoming election, we vote for the candidate that we think can
actually change things.
That draws us to the next progression faith. If we are to have true hope
we must place our faith in someone who has the power and resources to
fulfill our hope. Racers are realists, they understand that an old, tired
motor won’t produce a winning effort. You here it said many times; “we had a
(insert number here) place car today, we got all we could out of it.” We
also hear about the car that was capable of winning that ended up not
finishing because of the actions of others. Who do we place our faith in?
Psalm 20:7-8; Some
trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord
our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
There is only one source that I know of that
has both the power to follow through and the ability to control the
circumstances around us, Jesus Christ. If I have to choose who to put my
faith in he is the only one I could choose that actually has the authority
to change things.
Matthew 28:18-20; Then
Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Think of it this way, when we have exhausted
every avenue to pursue the outcome we want who do we turn to? We turn to our
Lord. We pray for the situation to work out and that God would have mercy on
us and hear our prayer. We turn to the one who has authority and power.
Let me point out that we have the progression backwards; we should reach
out to our Lord first. If we do this then much of the pain, suffering and
frustration will be overcome. For our hope to be true hope we must place our
faith in Jesus Christ, he has the power and authority to change things.
When we accomplish that we receive the gift of peace, a peace that passes
all understanding. When our hope and faith is placed in the right person we
can be at peace knowing that God is at work through the circumstances in our
lives to bring about the situation that is most beneficial to us.
Jeramiah 29:11-13; For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Romans 8:28; And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
As I stood and listened to a man share his
testimony at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday night I could visualize the hand
of God guiding him through the challenges he faced. God delivered him and is
the source of his hope. First comes hope, we hope things turn out in our
favor. But hope is false without faith in the right source, our Lord and
Savior. When we place our hope and faith in Jesus we receive a peace that
passes understanding knowing that God is working through our lives to
provide us with the most abundant life possible. Amen!
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto
Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue
this ministry. Thank You.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and
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www.rwjm.com. Send us
your prayer and counseling needs no matter what part of our racing family
you are in, or give us a call. Remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586,
Tolland, CT 06084.
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
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