“It’s not how you start the race that’s important…it’s how you finish!”

I think all of us would like to finish well. We should desire to manage the race in order to make it to the finish line. Admittedly, we usually think of that ultimate finish line…death…when we hope to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But what about today? Tomorrow? Next week? Don’t you want to finish well then, too?

My pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress spoke about this recently. He said we need to have a goal…a finish line…on a weekly basis, maybe even a daily basis. From my experience, it is so easy to just keep plugging away at the task, feeling like it will never end. What we thought was a sprint turns into a marathon, maybe even a super marathon. Jeffress says we need to change our way of thinking about these tasks.

“We don’t do all there is to do…but all we need to do.”

Here are some practical ways to help move us in the direction of establishing finish lines that allow us to rest and enjoy what the Lord has for us.

  • Organize your day, don’t let it just run you. What we call the tyranny of the urgent often overrides other decisions and keeps us from accomplishing the important things. Guard your schedule.
  • Know what can wait until tomorrow. Not everything has to be done today. Make your “tomorrow” list as today winds down.
  • Delegate…but don’t just dump your to-do list on someone else. Make delegation part of the planning process.
  • Turn it off. I once had to instruct a person in media to stop doing his editing work and go to bed. He was letting his ministry work intrude on his family life. Yes, there are times when deadlines have to be met. But with better planning, these become the rare exception, not the normal routine.
  • Do something you enjoy. Take a walk. Go shopping. Go out to eat with friends. Play a game.
  • Spend time with your family…and especially with your Heavenly Father.

Someone recently commented, “Our internet was down all day. I couldn’t do anything online. So, I went downstairs to visit with my family. They seem like nice people.”

The Apostle Paul often used the running of a race as an illustration of the Christian life. He said of himself:

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Set a finish line daily. Weekly. Pace yourself as you run the race set before you.

I think I see a checkered flag ahead. I’m wrapping up this Monday MEMO and I’m going to spend some time with my wife.

God’s best,