Wearing Blinders

I feel sorry for horses when I’ve seen them wearing blinders. However, I do realize the blinders’ importance. In races the horses run faster since they aren’t distracted by seeing people and animals along the sidelines. Blinders on farm horses help the farmers to avoid crooked rows for planting their crops.

Christians are instructed to look straight ahead, too. The world around us has many distractions to get us sidetracked from the race we are running. These possibilities include greed, position, power, immoral activities, and pleasing others. Focusing on Christ and His direction for our life is important to avoid these sideline distractions. Our “blinders” include attending church services, praying, reading the Bible, participating in a Bible study, consulting with a trusted Christian friend, and meditating on God’s Word.

Thank you, Lord, for the valued friends You have put in my life to help me run my race.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1 (RSV)