Stay in YOUR own Lane

Dear Friends,

Growing up we use to go up to Ole Main (which is now North Little Rock High School) and walk the track for exercise. If you have ever been to a track you know that it has individual lanes. When walking the track one should be courteous, and stay in their own lane. As a kid I would always pick lane 1 to walk in because, everyone wants to be number one right. I would run full speed, imagining myself winning the race. It didn’t matter who else was at the track, or who was looking. I just had set my eyes as a kid on the vision in my head to win. Then I began to think about the race called life. How it has zapped the little fearless girl who say herself winning out of me, and immediately I remembered what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:7 (NIV) which says, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”

What truths are you speaking of Chanda? The truth of God’s word that says’

I am the head. (see Duet 28:13)

I am above only. (see Duet 28:13)

I win every battle that I face. (see II Chronicles 20:17)

That I have victory in Christ. (see I Cor. 15:57)

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (see Psalm 139:14)

Any good runner, knows that they must stay in the lane that was assigned to them at the beginning of the race. If not, they could become disqualified for crossing lanes. When we look in someone else’s lane to compare ourselves, it will distract our focus from our lane and the truth of God’s word. If we are looking at what someone else is doing, in comparison, we are not staying in our own lane. We find ourselves asking questions like, “Why does their marriage seem to be working?” Or “Why does life seem much easier for them, when I know the stuff they have done?” Or “How did she get married before me, with all those kids?” or “How can they afford to buy a house?” These are things that WILL hinder us from running the race set before us.

II Corinthian 10:12-13 AMPC says, “Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.13 We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.

It is both wise and beneficial to run the race that has been set before you. Hebrew 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We must ask the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to help us stay in our own lane, mind our own business, and remember that Kingdom is as Kingdom does. God knows how to bring your lane to an expected end.

No Switching Lanes,

Chanda Rose