Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. —Hebrews 12:1
There are many missionaries who inspire me to keep running. One of them is Gladys Aylward.
This five-foot, 110-pound woman refused to give up when the mission board rejected her as a missionary to China. Starting with only a few coins in her pocket, she scrimped to pay her own way to China. Her desperate prayer was, "Oh God, here's my Bible! Here's my money! Here's me! Use me!"
Gladys couldn’t have imagined just how much God would use her. She left a legacy of saved souls and rescued orphans while persevering through pneumonia, typhoid fever—and even bullet wounds. Her testimony is compelling:
If God has called you to China or any other place and you are sure in your own heart, let nothing deter you . . . remember it is God who has called you and it is the same as when He called Moses or Samuel.
While most of us won’t face the ministry hurdles that Gladys Aylward did, her endurance stirs up our faith that despite whatever challenges we encounter, when our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we too will complete the race God has given us.
You are running in a race that counts for eternity, but you’re not running alone.
To spur you on, The 10-Day Faithful to the Finish Line Challenge will redirect your gaze from ministry roadblocks, sluggishness, and distractions to the captivating beauty and worth of our Savior. We’ll dive deep into Hebrews 12:1–3 for the next ten days to renew our passion for serving like Jesus.
Starting on June 1, check your inbox for daily emails from Revive Our Hearts that will include:
- A short, meaningful devotional
- Scripture reading
- Reflection questions
It’s better to run in a pack, so why not enlist a group of friends to take the challenge with you? Share this email challenge with them. They can sign up here.
Together, let’s lift our eyes off the temporary to what is everlasting. There’s a prize at the end of this race. Let’s run to win it (1 Cor. 9:14)!
Running with you,
Leslie Bennett