I arrived at the Lake Mirror Civic Center one hour before race time, planning my strategy. Four years ago I ran so slow that they didn’t even keep the streets closed for me. This time I felt I was in good form for the event. There was an air of pride in my voice as I stated how I would hold my speed in check at the beginning, and gradually increase my speed for the last three miles.

The day was hot and sunny. The starting time was 8:30 a.m. and we were to run on the streets around three lakes. My shoes were new, and ordinarily I run on grass in the early morning when it’s cooler.

The race was dedicated to the glory of God, and I was feeling confident as I approached the starting line. A JOGGING FOR JESUS logo was on my shirt, and I really felt the presence of the Holy Spirit that morning.

The race started, and so did the harassment from the devil. Less than one-third way around Lake Mirror “it” happened. A little old lady with curly white hair and skinny legs passed me! That provided satan with his first opening—pride. I started getting thoughts like – “You can’t let a 60 year old woman pass you up like that, you must have started too slow, so why don’t you try to pass her up?”

I started running faster. And I couldn’t catch up with her! At the first mile the timer called out 10 minutes and 36 seconds and I knew then that I had been running too fast. But I was still allowing myself to be prodded by pride and continued to try to catch up with my “adversary.”

At the two-mile mark my pace was still too fast, and I was in trouble. A quick check showed my pulse to be near 180 beats per minute. (I often run it up that far, but with four miles to go that was too high.) Again the devil fired – “Now you’ve done it. You won’t be able to finish this race. See what you did? You blew it trying to run so fast.”

I started to think (finally)! “If Jesus can help and heal others, then He will heal me of this problem if I ask Him.” The first thing I did was approach the Lord in prayer and I confessed my sins. One sin was my pride at the beginning of the race. Then I told the “enemy” to get off my case. After that I promised to give God all the glory, and would He please slow down my pulse so I could finish the race?

He touched me and returned my heartbeat to a safe rate. Praise the Lord-Jesus made this possible!

The next two miles were hot and uneventful. Lake Hollingsworth was beautiful, and I enjoyed watching the scenery and praying. A wet sponge was handed to me. I saw another runner squeeze it over the back of his neck, so I did the same. I was refreshed, but apparently not soon enough. The early warning signs of heatstroke were upon me. My body stopped sweating and my face was dry.

The “accuser” tried again – “It’s too hot for you, your head is going to hurt all day, you can only run when it’s cooler, you’re too old for this, don’t be so foolish.”

I said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Go! I won’t listen to you.” Then I called on my Lord Jesus again to heal me. I simply asked Him to make my body sweat again so I could finish the race and glorify His name.

Immediately sweat started running down my face and body.

That was the second miracle! I just praised the Lord and kept running.

I knew that I was running in this race for a purpose; and although I wasn’t sure what that purpose was yet, I was quickly catching on!

Before the five-mile mark my legs suddenly felt peculiar. The fronts of my shins had sharp pains zipping up and down them like electric shocks. The devil quickly jumped on this circumstance and reminded me – “you’re not running on grass and you have new shoes on, and besides you’re too old, so why don’t you just quit now and walk in down those back streets. No one will ever know you didn’t finish.”

By this time my Faith was soaring and I told the demon he was a liar and couldn’t tempt me to quit because Jesus would heal me.

Then I asked for the third miracle! “Lord, I know You have come to my rescue twice already today. Please heal my shins so I can finish this race for Your glory.” (At this point the pain disappeared suddenly and completely and never has returned.) Praise The Lord!

Running became a joy! I was able to start passing other runners. I grinned at the policeman who was at each corner (the same one moved along with us slow runners and kept the cars from hitting us.) By the time I was within sight of Lake Mirror, I was singly fairly loudly, “They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait” (from Isaiah 40:31).

I was able to sprint the last quarter mile to the finish effortlessly. WOW! The 40-50 age group had six women entered and I finished 6th, but that didn’t matter. For me the race was run for a very different purpose.

P.S. Victory is only a prayer away! Jesus is alive! Pain, doubt, fear, infirmities, and defeating ‘attitudes’ can be overcome by the Blood of the Lamb! By His stripes we were healed! Praise the Lord! He is merciful, loving, forgiving, and always close when we reach out to Him.

Our journey through life will also take us to the finish line also, and to eternity with Jesus.  He knows what all our needs are and will guide and direct us to the Father.