Racing into 2024 With the Optimal Race Team

For some of us 2023 might have been filled with mountain top experiences. For others it may have held trials and tribulations.  For the rest it might have been a mixed bag.  No matter what 2023 held for us we do not have to carry that into 2024.   

Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us, “Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (AMP) 

Philippians 3:12-16, Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us stay true to what we have already attained. (AMP) 

Here Isaiah and Paul, both admonish us to forget what happened in the past and watch for what the Lord has for us next.  We cannot cling to the past.  We need to press on toward the new thing God is doing in 2024.  Hear me on this, I am not saying we never look back at the things of the past.  Memories, good or bad, can be revisited when necessary.  However, what I am saying is that we don’t drive into 2024 looking in the rear-view mirror.  That is the recipe for disaster.  We cannot allow our past victories or defeats to take our focus off what lies ahead.   

I enjoy NASCAR Racing, and if I have learned anything over the past 50+ years of watching the races it is that taking your eyes off the track ahead leads to danger for not only you but all those on the track with you.   

Each racing team is made up of many members, all with the same goal, WINNING THE RACE!!! 

First, we have the driver.  His primary job is to drive.  Duh, Melissa, of course it is.  Hear me out.  The driver must maintain his focus on what lies ahead on the track.  He reports to the crew issues with his car; however, he cannot focus on them, analyze them, or fix them. He must focus on driving.  

Second, we have the Pit Crew.  Their job is to keep the car in top running condition.  They change tires, check fluids, patch damage, clean off the windshield, etc. Each one has a role and does it to the best of their ability.  They stay focused and work together as a team.   

Next, is the Crew Chief.  His job is to ensure that his driver and crew have everything they need to perform their roles successfully.  He is also the one who calls the shots. He plans the strategy, gives the orders, and watches the race from a seat of prominence where he can get the best view of the track.  He is in constant communication with his driver and crew.  He knows when to speak and when to remain silent.  He knows his driver inside and out and understands what motivates him and what will distract him from the race.    

The final member of the team is a person called a spotter.  It is the spotter's job to tell their driver where the other cars on the track are.  He tells his driver when it is safe to change lanes, identifies any changes in the driving patterns of other drivers, and informs his driver how to get around wrecks that happen on the track.  When the smoke is flying, and the visibility is low, it is necessary for the driver to immediately obey the voice of the spotter in order to come through with little to no damage. Any hesitation on the part of the driver or spotter could have catastrophic consequences.   

The same holds true for the Christian.   

First, we have been given a vehicle to operate: our life.  We are the drivers.  Our job is to stay focused on where we are going and what lies ahead of us.  We bring our needs and cares to God and then allow him to work them out as we continue moving forward.  We don’t have to figure out the answers for ourselves, when we cast our cares on him, he carries them and meets the needs.   

Second, we have been given a pit crew: the local pastor and body of Christ, Christian mentors, church leaders, etc.  We must stay connected. We need each other.  There are no Lone Rangers in this Christian life.  As a body we encourage, exhort, correct in love, uphold, listen, pray, help, etc. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that each member of the body plays an important role.  

Next, we have the most winning crew chief: Jesus. Jesus paid the price to ensure that we have everything we need to win the race set before us.  He ensured the victory would be ours by defeating our enemy in advance.  He then took his seat of prominence at the right hand of the Father, where he not only watches the race, makes the play calls, but also, intercedes for us, in our weakness, before his Father.   

Finally, we have been given the perfect spotter: Holy Spirit.  Unlike the spotters in NASCAR, Holy Spirit is never caught off guard by anything we are experiencing.  He is always looking ahead to prepare the track for our race.  If we learn to attune our ears to his voice, we will miss the hazards the enemy tries to place on the track.  If we practice instant obedience, we will swerve around wrecks and avoid the damage we might otherwise face.   

2024 is a brand-new race.  It is a new opportunity to grow in intimacy with Christ.  To develop tall faith.  To cultivate new hopes and dreams.  To receive new and deeper revelation from the Word.  To learn to depend more fully on the strength of God rather than our own.  

We are the Kings kids, and we have been called to overcome the enemy. We have been called to reach the lost and broken world with the message of forgiveness and redemption.  We are called to function as a body (crew) to see His Kingdom come to Earth as it is in Heaven.   

As we head into this new year may we avail ourselves of the crew God has given us and work together to Win the Race!