Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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David had written thousands of years ago that 'many are the afflictions of the righteous' {Ps.34:19} and of course he continues that statement by assuring us that the Lord will deliver us out of them all. So the promise of God is not that you and I will have no afflictions, trials and difficulties, but that He will get us through them, and victoriously at that! Like the apostle Paul we should also be able to say, "But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ..." {2Cor.2:14}

As we encounter difficulties, small or large, and we surely will, we should not be fixed on those problems but rather, as instructed in today's Scripture verse, to have our eyes fixed on Jesus who has given us, and is perfecting, our faith. That is our complete trust and assurance in His power and in His love for us. Remember that it also says in today's verse that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him!

If you have not done so lately, you might want to take a moment to read in his second letter to the Corinthians {2Cor.11:23-28} what Paul experienced as he faithfully served the Lord. And as you do please also remember what he wrote to the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” {1Thes.5:16-18}

The Lord spoke to us in the book of Isaiah giving us the battle plan to deal with all of the wiles, the schemes of the devil who is going about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. {1Pt.5:10} David had prayed to the Lord, his rock, his fortress, his stronghold, his deliverer, and his shield to train him for battle. {Ps.144:1-2}

The Lord has surely trained us telling us to sing His praise from the end of the earth, to shout for joy! Give glory to the Lord and declare His praise. Then the Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies! {from Isaiah 42:10-13}

The Lord has given us a heart for peace and a plan for war, (you just read it) for the battle is the Lord's and the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful. {2Cor.4:3-4} We are to walk onto the battlefield—the world—clothed with the whole armor of God. {Eph.6:11}

Paul was not only able to preach that but also to live that because he had fixed his mind on God the Father and his eyes on Jesus and knew the end of the matter without doubt, resulting in: 

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

WE ARE EQUIPPED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT