A Prayer about Running the Race with Endurance

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Lord Jesus,

As the author of my faith and the author of my story, 

you know that I always remember this verse 

in the NASB version in which I first memorized it. 

I had been a camper for two life-changing weeks 

at Young Life’s Pioneer Plunge, a wilderness camp, 

and the culmination of our time was a three mile run 

down the mountain (three miles was a long way for 

this out-of-shape fifteen-year-old). 

We were encouraged to memorize these verses 

and to see ourselves running the life of faith with endurance. 

Even before we began, we were encouraged 

to “lay aside every encumbrance 

and the sin which so easily entangles us”

by confessing it to you and possibly to one other. 

When we felt weary or like we couldn’t go on, 

we were to fix our eyes on you, 

“the author and perfecter of our faith,” 

who endured the cross 

because of the joy set before you — 

the joy of knowing 

you were winning your Father’s children back to him. 

We were also to imagine the “great cloud of witnesses,” 

those who had run the race before us, 

Abraham and Sarah and Rahab and Moses

and the “women who received back their dead by resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). 

(Now I know more and realize these characters

weren’t necessarily heroes of faith 

running like antelope 

but more recipients of your grace, 

stumbling along the way.)

Even if we had to quit running 

and walk part or all of the way, 

we were to remember that you “despised the shame” of the cross, 

so that we might never experience the shame of sin again. 

And if we encountered obstacles along the way, 

we were to ask for help, 

because you sit at the right hand of the throne of God, 

interceding for us.

I pray for my friends and me today, 

that we would continue running this same race with endurance, 

fixing our eyes on you, 

that we might see you 

writing and perfecting your story of faith in our lives.

In your perfect name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 11:1-12:2.