Eunice sent me a link a couple of months ago to read this article, thanks Euni :)
5 Minutes with K.P. – What Keeps Us Going?
(http://gospelforasia-books.org/2010/11/15/5-minutes-with-k-p-what-keeps-us-going/) 
I am always intrigued when I watch the start of the marathon
during the summer Olympics. All the runners appear
to be in top physical shape, excited to represent
their countries and determined to win the gold medal.
However, it’s an entirely different story when I watch
them 15 or 20 miles later. They look exhausted from the hot
sun that beats down on them or miserable because of rain
that makes their road slippery. Some have trouble breathing
when the race takes them over a mountain, and others
struggle to keep up with the fast pace.
Although everyone, no matter how long it takes them to
cross the finish line, is celebrated with cheers and applause,
some runners will never get there. Somewhere along the
route they drop out of the race due to exhaustion, injury or
discouragement.
In the marathon race and in our Christian life, persevering
until the end is what it’s all about, not just starting
well. What do I mean? Don’t give up your walk with Jesus;
endure in the call He gave you to win this lost world and
build His kingdom.
Like the marathon runners, we, too, will encounter
adversities along the way that could cause us to quit the
race. What are some of these adversities?
- Relationship problems with other Christians that
severely threaten our treasured self-life. - Physical and financial setbacks that cause us to
lose hope. - Lack of apparent fruit and thus fulfillment in our
service to the Lord. - Facing our latent failures and sins that expose our
unbrokenness, pride, selfishness, stubbornness or
critical spirit. - Frustration when serving the Lord becomes hard
work and the feelings are gone. - Feeling inadequate and overwhelmed by the expectations
of others. - Spiritual dryness that comes when God tests us
to see if we will still walk with Him by faith, even
when there is nothing within or without to support
us. - Losing sight of our priorities—shifting from serving
the Lord to protecting our self-interests.
From my own life and experience, I can tell you this: The
godliest Christian leaders I have met, the most challenging
sermons I have heard and the best books I have read on
evangelism and discipleship have not been enough to help
me survive in the race!
Only one thing has kept me in the ministry and following
Christ, and that is learning and practicing what the
writer of Hebrews said: “Let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2).
The secret of our survival is fixing our eyes on Jesus and
making Him alone our focus. Then our walk with God and
our commitment to serve Him will no longer depend on
whether or not people treat us right or circumstances are in
our favor. We will no longer rely on our emotions to support
us or on our successes to keep us going. Jesus alone
will become our goal and motivation—our prize—and we
will live for Him, run our race for Him and cross the finish
line for Him.
My dear friend, unless you learn to fix your eyes on Jesus
alone, you will have no stability in your walk with God
or in your service to Him.
Jesus Himself said, “Follow Me.”
Therefore, meditate on Him, consider Him and think
about Him so that you may not grow weary in your heart.
The answer to enduring until the end is not self-effort or a
rational attempt to figure out the answers, but rather to stop
and look into His eyes.
If we do this, all the things that surround us in this
world will become shadows in the light of Him. After all his
struggles, Job found the answer he was searching for when
he fell on his face and worshiped the Lord.
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