“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits …” Psalm 103:2 (NIV)
When I jog around my neighborhood, I often take my dog, Winston, with me. But since his favorite pastime is napping … Winston needs a little motivation.
So I grab a doggie biscuit and hold it in front of him. He sniffs with excitement and follows me, usually trailing for the first four houses before catching up. He loves getting his treat after our exercise! With the reward in sight, he runs onward.
The Bible also compares the Christian life to running a race:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?” (1 Corinthians 9:24a, NIV).
“… I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV).
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us …” (Hebrews 12:1b, NIV).
Running takes discipline, consistency, effort, and movement in the same direction. When we have a reward in sight, like Winston with his dog biscuit, it keeps us motivated, helping us persevere through difficulty or fatigue.
We certainly run for the prize of heaven and the crown of eternal life! And there are also rewards to enjoy right now in our race of faith. Psalm 103:2-5 highlights these benefits of serving God:
“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (NIV).
The psalmist, David, was talking to himself in these verses. He was encouraging his own heart and stirring up praise. He remembered what God had done for him that no one could take away. He was grateful to be forgiven. He recognized that God satisfies His people.
This is a glimpse into David’s inner life of praise. It reveals the motivation that kept him running so strong he was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
How can we do the same?
There are many sinful distractions that would trip us up. There’s also a very subtle snare: the trap of forgetfulness. Maybe we don’t go down an evil path, but we slow down and stop remembering all God has done. We become forgetful … then ungrateful. We forget the awesomeness of God and His deliverance. We forget why we committed to run the race as disciples in the first place.
It’s time to awaken our souls to remember our God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. This is what keeps us running the race: remembering the benefits of following God. He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies!
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Redeemer and saving my soul. I remember Your goodness today. You do not treat me as my sins deserve. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your love for me. I take time now to remember Your greatness. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to stay rooted in God’s Word this season, the First 5 app makes it simple to grow — even with a busy schedule. Every day, you’ll receive scripture verses, thoughtful teaching, and guided questions to help you reflect and pray. And when you’re ready to go deeper, our 40 Days Through the New Testament study is a powerful way to walk through the life and teachings of Jesus with a supportive community. Download the First 5 app today, create your account, and we’ll send you an exclusive bonus resource to help you take your Bible study even deeper.
It takes perseverance to run the race well and faithfully serve your family. Did you know Arlene Pellicane’s Happy Home podcast can help you along the journey? Arlene interviews marriage and parenting experts and has candid and practical conversations created to encourage you and your family. Check it out today!
Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (NIV).
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (NIV).
Why do you think the Bible uses the analogy of a race to describe our faith?
Think about what God has done for you. What was your life like before you knew Him? Take a few moments to write down some of the benefits of serving God, and then share with us in the comments section!
© 2026 by Arlene Pellicane. All rights reserved.
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