Perfect Pacer

Many marathons offer official pacers. A pacer is an experienced runner who is tasked with running at a set speed for a certain projected finish time thus helping participants achieve their goal and finish strong. 

Runners who want to run a steady race and meet their goal time seek to find the correct pacer at the start of the race. Pacers typically will be holding a sign with the finishing time goal. Those who run with pacers receive many benefits, such as: 

• Keeping a steady, reliable pace—helping you stay focused and positive. 
• Knowing the course and potential obstacles. 
• Navigating the crowd and leading from the front so you can follow clearly. 

The key for the runner is to stay close so they can see and listen to the voice of the pacer. Drift too far behind and they lose the pacer and don’t meet their goal. Sprint ahead and they burnout and fall apart. 

Just like runners benefit from a pacer, we, as Christ followers, have the perfect pacer in Jesus. He doesn’t just know the way—He is the Way! Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Keeping in step means we do not surge ahead or fall behind but maintain a steady pace with Jesus, remaining in His presence and listening to His voice. 

We do this by prioritizing spending time with Him in prayer, in His Word and in fellowship with other believers. Setting aside time to pray helps align our hearts with God’s will. His Word is our course to follow. In Hebrews 12:1, it says, “..run with endurance the race that lies before us.” We don’t select the course, God establishes it. We simply stay the course and follow Him. 

Are you running ahead, falling behind, or keeping in step with Jesus—your perfect Pacer?