Welcome to the Feminate Podcast. This is Nancy Wilson. Thanks for joining me today. It is springtime,

and several of my grandkids are running track. A couple in college, several in high school.

In fact, my son is a coach, and they are all running fast. So this is why I have

running on my mind. It's a season. And as you know, the Bible uses running as a metaphor for our

Christian life. So I'm going to look at a few of these references to running today, because this is for all of us,

whether we are in track or not, because the Christian life is a race. So let's start with Psalm 119,

verse 32. I will run the course of your commandments, for you shall enlarge my heart. First, we must choose to run the course, like David does.

We must resolve to run. David says, I will run. And what is the course of this run? It's the course

of God's commands. God's commands show us His will. They tell us how to live to please him. They are the track,

the course laid out for us. And he is more than a good coach. He has laid out the course,

instructed us how to run that course, and he provides the strength that we need to run it. How does he provide strength? He shall

enlarge our hearts. That's the secret to running the course of his commandments. He enlarges our

hearts with wisdom, and that increases our understanding and strengthens our capacity, our ability to run.

The more we gain wisdom, the larger our heart,

the stronger we are to run the race, finish the course, and win the prize. Paul knew all about running. In 1 Corinthians 924, he says, do you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may obtain it. What does it mean? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Run like a Christian. Run with an enlarged heart. Run with wisdom, run with joy. The author of Hebrews also compares

the Christian life to erase. In chapter 12 verse 1, therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so

great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnars us, and let us run with

endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,

and it sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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