It’s time for a spiritual check-up?

Every year, I go to the doctor for a physical exam. While I stand there in my birthday suit, the doctor pinches various parts of my body to measure my body fat—and I regret every chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever eaten!

The doctor doesn’t put me through that to humiliate me. He is concerned about my health. And yearly exams are important to maintain our physical wellness.

But even more important than our physical health is our spiritual health. With the new year a few days away, it’s a good time for a spiritual exam:

• Are you growing in your relationship with God?
• Are you making your spiritual health a daily priority?
• Are there habits in your life that are hindering your spiritual walk?

The writer of Hebrews explained why it’s important to maintain our spiritual fitness: “Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (12:1).

The Christian life is like a marathon. Running a marathon requires endurance, and endurance comes from training. 

Do you know people who lost their enthusiasm for Christ in their later years? Perhaps they seemed to be strong in the faith, but they allowed time, temptation, or the cares of everyday life to extinguish the passion they once had for Christ.

To finish strong in the Christian life, you have to develop endurance. 

As we anticipate what God has in store for us in 2024, I’d like to share three pointers for developing endurance in your spiritual life:

1. Remember your heroes.

Hebrews 12:1 says we have a “cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” These are men and women whose examples we can follow. If you’re being ridiculed for your faith, remember Noah, who remained faithful when people mocked him for building a boat in the desert. If you’re in a trial, remember a parent or mentor who endured hardship. Remember the men and women of God who have gone before you.

2. Remove your obstacles.

A runner travels as light as possible. In the same way, the writer of Hebrews said we are to “lay aside” anything that weighs us down in our relationship with God. Is there a sin you need to repent of . . . or a habit or relationship that’s holding you back? To finish the race, you need to remove whatever is slowing you down.

3. Refocus your attention. 

If a runner gets distracted by the crowd or his own weariness, he has to redirect his focus. As Hebrews 12:2–3 reminds us, the same thing is true in the Christian life. When you’re fatigued, when you’re discouraged—when you think, I can’t make it any longer—remember Jesus. He marched to the cross triumphantly because He looked beyond it and saw the prize God had for Him. You can keep your eyes on the prize because you know God has promised to reward you.

Are you focused on the prize that awaits you in heaven? Are you prepared to remove anything in your life that’s hindering your walk with God? Are you following the example set by people of faith who have gone before you?

I encourage you to make your spiritual health a priority every day so you can finish strong and receive the rewards God has for you in eternity.

Sharing the Truth of God’s Word,

Dr. Robert Jeffress