April 22, 2008
Talking about winning the race there are rules to follow. Hurdles race is different from 100 -meter dash. It’s not leaping over just one hurdle and say the race is won! You have to clear a series of them! You can not win going around them are crashing into them. I thought how truly it typifies life’s situation. We have to go over several hurdles in life till we finish our race.
But be of good cheer! David was surrounded by a troop and closed in. He said “By my God, I can leap over a wall” Ps.18:29. It was not his strength. It was the strength from God. We can do all things by Him who strengthens us!
We face several hurdles and obstacles in our lives. Financial problem, health problem, problem of sin, misunderstandings; all trying to trip us and hinder us from going forward. But we can go over them with the strength from God. In my life, I have faced problems and difficulties that try to discourage me and hinder my spiritual progress. But every time I looked to the Lord for help and strength I was always an overcomer!
Some times we find ourselves shut in by situations by our own folly or disobedience and sin. But God can forgive us and bring us out of every situation when we repent. Jonah cried out to God from the belly of the fish deep in the sea. He says “The deep closed in around me. The earth with iron bars closed behind me forever. Yet You have brought me up from the pit” Jon.2:5,6.
There is no door which can keep us shut when we have God on our side. He will open before us ‘double doors’ and He will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron! (Is.45:1, 2) to give us His treasures!
Three hints to help us leap over the hurdles:
When the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, the Amalekites came against them in war to stop them from going forward to possess the Promised Land. Moses went up the hill with Aaron and Ur. When Moses held up his hand the people of God prevailed. Let us go up into the presence of God in Prayer! Our victory over the obstacles and the enemy is decided in our prayer closet!
Later God told Moses and his people to destroy the Amalekites! He does not tolerate anything or anybody hindering our spiritual progress.
The people of Israel were standing in front of the Red Sea and the wilderness has “closed them in” and Pharaoh was hot on their heels to destroy them. God told Moses to lift up the Rod and stretch out his hand over the sea. The sea parted and the people went over the dry bed in the midst of the sea! God has given us the Word to lift up and divide all that opposes our spiritual advance.
Joshua and the people of Israel had to cross the river Jordan and the river was in spate! Nobody could cross it at such a time and situation. But when the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant touched the waters, the waters that came down from the upper stream stood still and the people crossed the river. It was the Presence of God that stopped the waters!
Hurdles will come. But every time go over them in the Name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit!
“For by You, I can run against a troop
By my God, I can leap over a wall!”
