We live in the country with crops planted on three sides of our property. Since we live in the country, we have to take some special precautions with our dog. We have both Coyotes and Turkey vultures (very large vultures) in the area. Our little dog is just that — "little." She is a cross between a miniature Poodle and a Pekinese, called a Peek-a-poo. She stands about ten inches tall with legs that are about six inches long and weighs all of 5 1/2 pounds. So as you can imagine, she would make a good snack for these other hungry country critters. We always take her outside for her walks on a leash.

On this particular day, Grandma and Christopher's mom, Mylinda, took him outside along with the dog. The 35 pound Christopher was holding the leash for the 5 1/2 pound Chewy. They walk out to the side yard where Chewy spies a rabbit and takes off at full speed for it. She reaches the end of the 16-foot leash and yanks it out of Christopher's hand. Suddenly, the race is on.

The rabbit heads out across the field with the dog in hot pursuit. The rabbit is running for its life and the dog is ten foot behind, with the leash bouncing up and down as Chewy runs across the field with Grandma screaming for her to stop — of course, Chewy has developed temporary deafness. That's about the time our son, Kirk, and I walked out of the house and saw what was happening.

Now, you would think the rabbit would have no trouble getting away from the dog. The dog has those little short legs running full tilt through a field of tall Alfalfa hay with the leash trailing along behind her. Believe it or not, she was actually closing in on the rabbit as they circled around and got close enough to our daughter-in-law for her to grab the leash and end the show.

"What is the leash that is trying to hold me back?"

Now I'd like to make a spiritual lesson out of this story. You see, now every time she goes out of the house, Chewy looks for the rabbit. She strains at the leash. She stares at the field. She smells the ground. Chewy is longing for the opportunity to have the pursuit all over again. She longs to chase that rabbit she almost caught.

I understand that Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs. Only later were they turned into lap dogs. The flame of little Chewy's hunting blood has been kindled and it doesn't look like it is going to go out. She now has a goal in her life — she is going to find that rabbit once again!

The apostle Paul wrote, "I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (Philippians 3:14) Isn't that what each of us who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ should be doing? Shouldn't we be straining against whatever is holding us back to reach the goal God has given us ... to win the race the Lord has set before us. Jesus called us to, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33) To "seek" literally means "to strive for" or "to crave for" something. We should long, look, and seek the Kingdom even more than Chewy longs to find that rabbit.

You need to ask yourself, "What is it I really crave?" Maybe even more, we should ask, "What is the leash that is trying to hold me back?" Rather than a young child holding back Chewy, you may have Satan on the other end of your leash trying to hold you back from racing off after God, His kingdom, and His righteousness. Why not yank the leash from his hand and be what you were intended to be from the beginning — a child of God pursuing the Father and his righteousness and not the things of the world.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Look Great, Feel Great: 12 Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now by Joyce Meyer Joyce guides us to a healthier way of living, reminding us that turning every issue over to God gives us the strength to make lasting changes.

Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.

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