I have always been a big fan of track & field. One of my favorite events is the high hurdles. I just love watching the men and women jump over those hurdles while maintaining such a fast pace. I remember my first time looking at a high hurdle. I was a sophomore in high school and I walked out on that track one day and they had the high hurdles set up. I backed up and took off running toward the hurdle. In my mind I was Jesse Owens! Nothing was going to stop me from jumping over every hurdle and finishing the race with my hands held high in the air! Well now back to reality. I managed to stop then jump over the first hurdle, I stumbled to the second one, jumped up and my foot got caught, I fell down and hit the ground hard, injuring myself. OUCH!!!
I thought when I looked at those hurdles that I could do what I saw the people do on the track and field events. But what I didn’t think about was all of the time, years even, that those people put into perfecting the ability to jump over those hurdles.
You see when we see people who are very successful in their ministries and the things they’re doing for God we tend to think we can do the same even though God hasn’t prepared us yet. We want to jump right over the fire, the storms, the trials and tribulations, and the tests and go right to the prize – an award-winning ministry with books written, and speaking or singing all over the world. And we want it right now! The problem is that it is in the preparation that God is refining us and getting us ready to jump over the hurdles that the devil puts in our path as we walk out God’s path for our lives. And just like a hurdler has to start by jumping in the air without the hurdles there to perfect his leap, landing, and number of steps he takes between each hurdle, we have to go through the storms and the tests because it is during those tests that we learn when to jump, where to land, and how many steps to take before we get to the next test.
So while you are being sharpened in the fire, praise God for the trial and thank Him for the road ahead that He’s preparing you for. God has already seen the hurdles you are going to have to jump over. So be willing to go through the practice because when you’re done, God will use your testimony to show others what He’s done for you. It is your testimony that God will use to deliver and set many people free. How do you jump over the hurdles of the devil? You read your bible and pray every day. Spend time with God building a relationship so you can hear Him when He speaks. He will guide you over, around, or through every hurdle the devil brings your way!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
Glory to God!
Robert T Sells
About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at www.robertsellsonline.com.
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