“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. We look away from the natural realm, and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” -Hebrews 12:1-2 TPT

THE PROLOGUE: The Stories Before Ours

“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds…” -Hebrews 12:1 TPT

“So, we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into…. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.” -Hebrews 12:2 TPT

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” -Romans 7:15 ESV

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” -Romans 7:24-25 ESV

“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” -Romans 8:1 ESV

“We look away from the natural realm and focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus…” -Hebrews 12:2 TPT

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” -Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

“Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” -Hebrews 12:2 TPT

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 1:4-6 ESV

THE EPILOGUE: The Story We Step Into