My word uses the illustration of running a race like you intend to win it. What conclusion do you draw from that? Do you see it as a competition in which you strive to beat your opponents? This would be the wrong conclusion. The proof of this is in the conduct of those Christians who behave as if they are in competition with their fellow believers. If not that, then what? The passage refers to internal focus. Structure your own life and do all that is necessary to prepare yourself to put forth your own best possible effort.

Have you encountered parents with different faith traditions who agree to raise the children with no faith influence on the premise that they will be free to make up their own minds when the time comes? What would you expect to happen as a result? On what basis would they make a decision? They will learn that faith is unimportant. Haven’t you seen children raised in any faith tradition feeling free to make up their own minds to change if they so desire? It would be better to find a way to raise the children that honors more than one faith tradition.

Have you ever found something in a place you did not expect to find it? Was this a pleasant surprise if it was something you wanted? Do you know where to find truth? For many believers this is a narrow search area, and it is considered more by the source than by the content. But what if you come across something from outside your faith tradition that resonates deeply with you and provides an accurate description of real world behavior? Could that be true? Could there be truth outside your tradition? I promised to lead you into all truth.

Have you ever expressed an interest in doing something but not followed through with it? If you tell your friends, what question will they ask in reply? Isn’t it some version of, ‘what is holding you back’? There can be many reasons, but could this be the wrong question to ask? Perhaps a better approach would be to ask, ‘what is pulling you forward’? Desire is a powerful force, and there is tension when it meets resistance. Desire will have to overcome resistance to prevail. This isn’t likely to happen if you focus only on the obstacles in the way.