Finishing Strong

The desire of most people all over the world is to start well and finish strong.  God has that same desire for you too.  His word says, ”His thoughts towards you are of good and not of evil to give you a hope and a future.”

To different people, starting strong means different things.  An athlete doing a short-distance race begins with a high speed in order to have an edge over other competitors.  Also before a project is embarked upon, lots of information is gathered to assist in making the project a success, so  the project is starting strong.

It isn’t sufficient to just start strong there is also need to finish strong.  I have a few pointers on starting and finishing strong.

1.You will have to trust the Lord with all your heart (Prov. 3:5) and commit your ways/plans (Prov. 16:3) to Him.  These are indications that you trust Him.  It is also a product of your faith in Christ, after all the just shall live by faith (Heb. 10:38A); God who has promised is faithful and He will do it (Heb. 10:23). 

When you visit restaurants you wait to be served after you have placed your order.  You may be hungry but you still endure the wait so as to get your food.  Likewise you are encouraged to wait in things of God (Heb. 10:36).  Endurance is a great virtue.

2. Stay away from fear - If you have faith, then fear can’t have a place in you.  If you allow fear into your heart it will rob you of a sound mind. The Bible reminds you that God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind (I Tim. 1:17).  Having a sound mind has a part to play in your finishing strong.  It connotes safe thinking; disciplined thinking. 

3. Study the scriptures - To make a success of your Christian walk you must cultivate a habit of studying the Bible.  There is so much to discover even as you do so.  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Tim. 1:15). 

The word of God is Spirit and life, and whatever wisdom you need you can find in there.  Whatever challenge you are going through, please note that it’s a wisdom problem.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

4. Prayer is the Mastermind - You will need to pray consistently.  Jesus while teaching His disciples mentioned that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).  Prayer gives you the opportunity to influence your future.  Through it, men have changed situations, saved lives and turned events around. It is the place to ask, seek and find. 

5. God’s Presence – Your consciousness of His Presence is very important.  Moses requested that God’s Presence will go with them or else they would not go (Exod. 33:13-15).  He understood that without His Presence they wouldn’t achieve anything.  Moses was consciously seeking God’s Presence.  His Presence is an indication of finding grace in His sight (Exod. 33:16).  Jacob woke up at Bethel and realized he was in the house of God (Gen. 28:16).  All the while God was there but he did not know it.  Is God around you and you don’t know it? 

6. Diligence in seeking Him – An athlete running a race does so with diligent pace in order to win.  God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).Your due diligence is to seek Him.  Even as you do so, He will reward you. 

7. Seedtime and Harvest - After the flood, Abraham offered a sacrifice of every clean animal.  When God smelled it, He made a covenant with man and pronounced the law of seedtime and harvest (Gen. 8:22).   This law applies to every area of life.  Gal. 6:7-8 warns, “Do not be deceived God is not mocked, whatever a man sows he will reap.”

8. Doing the Needed – Martha complained to Jesus that while she catered her sister – Mary sat down.  The Master’s response was surprising.  He said, “Mary has chosen that which is needed.” (Luke 10:41-42)  The needed is what God expects you to do at a point in time.  Pray for God’s direction to choose the needed. 

9.Your Thought Life - Anything you are in the habit of doing you will become/produce.  The Bible in Prov. 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”  A man can never go beyond his thought life.  Ask God to renew your mind.

Cain thought evil of his brother – Abel and eventually killed him (Gen. 4:8).    On the contrary David thought of defeating Goliath and with God on his side he got the victory.  The bible advises you to think of those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, if there be any virtue and any praise (Phil. 4:8).  Perhaps you have a bad thought running hay wire within you then you have to put it in check by subjecting it to the word of God.  II Cor. 10:5 admonishes that you cast down every high thing trying to exalt itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought to captivity of the obedience of Christ. 

10. Heart of Gratitude - is best demonstrated in an atmosphere of appreciation.  During creation, intermittently God looked at what He made and confirmed all was good.  Begin to appreciate what you have by thanking God for it and commending people around you.  In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you (I Thess. 5:18)   Customer Service people are encouraged to smile on the phone while picking a call.  It is believed that their smiles will reflect in their voices.  Like wise your thanksgiving and rejoicing is a heart attitude.  Gratitude is the memory of the heart.

11.Worship – This goes beyond singing; it’s a lifestyle.  We all enjoy going to places where we are loved, appreciated and celebrated.    The Spirit of God enjoys going to such places too.  He rained on the apostles at Pentecost because they waited earnestly to have Him (Acts 2:1-2).  The atmosphere around you must be conducive for the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself.  Doing this is living a life of worship. 

12.Focus & Passion - An athlete with a desire to win focuses on reaching the finish line first.  The athlete will demonstrate so much passion and do everything within the sports rules to win.  During the race everything else takes a second place.  It is said of Jesus that “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:1-2)

Jesus Christ was so passionate about redeeming man.  His focus was on the joy that was set before Him that one day His creation will come to accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Are you passionate about anything?  Involve God in it and it will succeed.  Stop postponing things because postponement is the greatest thief of time. 

Finishing strong is a product of a consistent Christian walk.  Simeon a just and devout Jew began well by trusting God to see the consolation of Israel and he got his heart desire.  He did not see death till he saw Jesus Christ.  He says in Luke 2:29-32, “Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. 31Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples. 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. 

Simeon finished strong and he can now depart in peace.  It was the end of an era.  I know you also have a desire to finish strong.  You may not have started well but you can have a new start today.  This message addresses where you are at the moment and the future.  In order to achieve any of these, your relationship with God must first be addressed.  Simeon trusted God and handed his life to Him.  You will have to do the same thing.  God loves you very much that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).   

So before finishing strong in whatever you are facing, prepare for the race by getting your relationship with Christ in order and trusting Him throughout the journey. Give your situation to Him and seek wisdom.