FOCUS ON CHRIST

Marla Runyan gave her all to qualify for the Olympic Games in 1996, but her best time finished short of the mark to make the United States team.

Undeterred by that failure, she returned in 2000 & made the team for the Sydney Olympics. Her eighth place finish in the 1,500 meter race was the best finish ever for a United States woman runner.

The thing that makes Runyan’s accomplishments even more remarkable is that she is legally blind. She is the first legally blind athlete to ever qualify for & compete in the Olympic Games.

Runyan can only see shapes & blurs, but she says that her lack of vision is actually an asset - she just focuses on the finish line in front of her rather than looking around to see what the other runners are doing.

Not having visual distractions helps her compete & win her races.

The same thing can be true in our lives. There will always be things that try to pull us away from what we should be focused on doing. Many times these will be good things, but we must be willing to set them aside & stay focused on what is most important.

Heb 12:1-2 (GW): “…We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.   We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith…”

Source: USA Track and Field (ministry127.com)

“Instead of concentrating on your problems and getting discouraged, focus on God and meditate on His promises for you. You may have fallen down, but you don't have to stay down. God is ready, willing and able to pick you up.” -  Joyce Meyer.