The Big Race

Joining in
What is the race like?
Can I make it?
Does it really matter?

Getting Ready
Getting in Shape
Your Trainers
Distance Training
Course Overview

Crossing the Line
 Readying the Mind
 Mastering the Course
 Deciding to Win
Feel for winning
Building blocks
Design of marriage
Relevance of marrriage
Life changing truths
1) Loving or lusting
Choice of love
Fulfillment problems
Sources of love
Questions of love
Overcoming lusts
2) Filled or empty
Finding fulfillment
Problems of fulfillment
Sources of fulfillment
Questions of fulfillment
OvercomingEmptiness
3) Security or loneliness
Choosing security
Overcoming loneliness
Clarifying our destination
Our Battle Plan


Running the Race
Gaining stamina
Overcoming hurdles
Roadside cheer
Feeling overwhelmed
Thoughts controlled!


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2) Inner Fulfillment
The two choices
The choice of fulfillment
Problems of fulfillment
Sources of fulfillment
Questions of fulfillment

Fulfillment overcomes emptiness

FULFILLMENT OVERCOMES EMPTINESS

How does understanding the teaching of inner fulfillment help us overcome our lusts? When we are responsive to God's love, our whole orientation toward life changes. When lusts are on our mind, is it not true that fulfilling our own desires is the only thing that we are really interested in? We might buy something for someone or take them out to eat, but deep in our minds we want the physical exchange. The opposite is true with God's love. When God's love is on our mind, we are thinking about others. If we can be consumed with God's love, we will not want the cheap sex thrills at the expense of others. Instead, being deeply satisfied in our hearts, we will focus on enthusiastically passing on the love of God to others. When we are filled with God's love, there is no room or desire for the lusts. Fullness chases away the emptiness.
The picture that comes to my mind is the ocean with its rising tide filling the once dry cove. As the water rises, it begins to fill all the empty spaces. There was rock and sand, but now as the water fills it, the water is swirly all around filling every little cavity. Then the life, the crabs, the fish begin to fill the place that not long ago was barren and dry. God's love is now seeking to fill our empty lives. The waves of God's love must push out the emptiness of self pursuit to fill our lives with the much more glorious waves of pleasing and delighting others.

There are many commands in the scriptures that tell us to do or not to do certain things. Jesus said they were all founded upon the commandments to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. The commands will tell us what is always best. But it is the love of God that lets our heart know why these actions are the best.

Questions

  1. Have you been able to perceive the love of God?
  2. Can you respond to His love?
  3. Are you empty or filled? What convinces you of your answer?
  4. Do you want to pursue your self-driven activities or are you ready to be love-driven?

Action Plan

Right now, God is asking that we trust Him for strength to put aside our lusts. Respond to His love gesture by agreeing with Him. Acknowledge how you have turned away from His loving plan and desire Him and His love now. Tell Him that you want forgiveness through Jesus Christ for your sins, restoration, and a fresh new start never having an end. Tell Him He knows the best plan for your life and that you will trust Him to lead you to fulfill this plan.

Prayer

Dear Lord, it is time I change. Every self-pursuit is so empty and void. I have not paid attention to you and your purposes. I have been too intent insisting on getting what I think I need. Here you have this great design for my life, and I have hardened myself to it. I no longer want to be part of the problem but with your love flowing through me to be part of the solution. Lord, through Jesus Christ, please forgive me for my selfish ways and restore me to You. Let me have no greater passion than to respond fully and warmly to You and your plans. Help me. My faith is little. There will be times I will not understand your ways, but I do desire them. Now may Your waves of love overflow and refresh my heart that Your love in me may splash over into the lives of those around me. In Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.

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