Psalm 103 (KJV)

 ¹Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 ²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 ³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

 ⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

 ⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 ⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

 ⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

 ⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

 ⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

 ¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 ¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

 ¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

 ¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

 ¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

 ¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

 ¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

 ¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

 ¹⁹The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

 ²⁰Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

 ²¹Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

 ²²Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Are you living your life totally committed to the will of God? Was Jesus really serious when He spoke about loving God with your whole life? Well, I think that's exactly what He had in mind in Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

 How can we possibly live a life with this degree of devotion? I think that there must be a spirit of submission to the rule and reign of the life of Jesus Christ. Without this, we will not bend our knees or heart in prayer on a daily basis.

If we don't develop a life of prayer then our knowledge of the Father's heart will be limited. It's in prayer and up out of prayer that we receive the guidance to know the will of God.

We'll learn to please the Father and to desire His will as we're loving the Son and yielding to the Holy Spirit. As we love Him, we will live out His will.

Many times we want to do our will and then ask God to bless and direct. But, I know that it works so much better when we quietly yield to His will.

In order to have focus, you must have a proper goal and vision. In our pursuit of life we are surrounded by negative circumstances that constantly stand up and call for our attention. We, as Christian believers, must hear again the words of Paul in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Our walking and running must bring us closer to a dynamic devotion to our Lord. Our devotion will cause us to focus on the prize. We have this awesome privilege of an intimate eternity with our Lord. As we yield to the life and person of the Holy Spirit, we will have the strength and patience to press toward the goal.

What is your focus? Is it to know Christ? Do you want to become deeply acquainted with Him, and know the power that flows out from His life!

 1. Are you still in the race that God has put before you?

2. Are you thinking of quitting and letting someone else wear your shoes?

3. Have you really finished the course and done all that the Lord has spoken?

Someone has said, that at times we need to quit thinking about heaven, and start thinking about pushing and pressing harder than ever before. Our focus must be on the prize - our Lord Jesus Christ. 

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, READY, GO!