Even Turtles Win Races: Watch Letter

What if God made you to be slow and steady instead of first and fast?

During a recent message at The Body of Christ, Inc., Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn said “Be The You God Made.”

He introduced a series of messages given to him by the Lord that he will author and record called “Even Turtles Win Races.”

It ties into the scripture:

Ecclesiastes 9:11: "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong...."

It's all about endurance. God made the turtle to endure. The turtle is equipped with a protective shell and a safe haven all in one. It is adaptable, intelligent, and aware. Turtles are the oldest of all surviving reptiles for a reason.

Because a turtle is known to be slower and is often considered unattractive it has been mocked throughout history. But God doesn’t make mistakes. God had a specific purpose for the turtle when he created it, just like when he created you.

The turtle has sustained and had longevity all over the world and that comes from not trying to be anything but what God made it to be. Usually nature has no problem being what God made it to be, it is us humans that always get in the way of God's plans.

There is a classic story about the tortoise (turtle) and the hare (rabbit).

The hare mocked the turtle because it moved slow and he played around throughout their race hoping to make the turtle look bad or distract him. The hare counted on his speed to get him over the finish line first. But the turtle continued to move at the pace he was able to and stayed on track, and ultimately won the race.

Sometimes we try to change our lives and outcomes by thinking that speed is the answer. But true success is moving at a pace that allows God to direct us and help us. Like Chief Apostle Gunn always says: don’t outrun your help or your blessing. The turtle used wisdom and consistent movement to win the race. The speed, the charisma nor the beauty of the hare was not enough to make it.

Where in our lives have we tried to see the fruition of something by not being who God made us to be? Where have we rebuked the attributes of the turtle in order to be like the rabbit, which was so focused on winning that he often would get off the track, literally?

Sometimes the reason we act like the rabbit instead of the turtle is that deep on the inside we don’t think God knew what he was doing when he made us or we don’t think God knows what he is doing in our current situation. That is rebellion and that is making ourselves a god. True humility is knowing that God knows best and we did not make ourselves and cannot make anything work on our own. That is why we have been being taught more about how to truly fast. Fasting births humility and a hunger to yield to God's way.

We forget that God is the creator. He made the brains we try to figure stuff out with. He made the feet, legs, arms, and hands we use to move and act with it. He made the entire galaxy. Why would we question him, try to outthink him, or try to move ahead of him?

The inventor always knows the best way to make the invention work!

I believe the turtle in the story accepted that God’s wisdom is infinite and he was confident that God had equipped him with what he needed most to make it to the finish line - steadfastness.

One dictionary says it best. To be steadfast is to be “Constant; firm; resolute; loyal, not fickle or wavering.”

Just like faith, God gave us a measure of steadfastness when he made us. He would never ask us to do something he hasn’t already equipped us to do. The turtle knew that he could win. He didn’t have to be like the rabbit. Sometimes when you move too fast you tire yourself out. You grow weary in well-doing too easily. When you are in a rush you don’t think clearly. You're prone to forget things or cause messes and accidents because you aren’t focused. I've been there before.

God made us each in a certain way that would allow us to fulfill his calling on our lives, stay faithful to him, and complete every assignment and promise given to us. But until we accept who we are in Him, we will never truly know that we can win the race by His standards. We will never know that we don’t have to compromise and be something else to get what God has for us at the finish line. We will never know that we don't have to rush to the prize because it will be there waiting for us in God's timing.

“Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.” - Colossians 1:23

Now, as I close, something caught my eye: the number 9-1-1 in Ecclesiastes 9:11. We all know what 9-1-1 means.

If we decide that it is urgent for us to slow down and let God equip us for what is before us, and reveal to us who we really are in Him, then we won’t find ourselves dealing with unnecessary dangers or emergency situations later. Let's not miss where God is trying to get our attention. We still have a chance to win the race!

Hebrews 12:1 - "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

What if the turtle tried to move too fast and hurt himself. What if the turtle stopped moving and was harmed from being run over by the rabbit? What if the turtle lost his balance trying to outpace the rabbit and was turned over by the weight of his own shell? Let’s cancel our plans to be a spiritual rabbit and instead be a faithful turtle. Because as Chief Apostle Gunn said, "Even turtles win races!"

Listen to the Dec. 11, 2021 FORREAL Radio Broadcast with a message from Chief Apostle Gunn's series: “Even Turtles Win Races:" https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/listen-in?wix-music-track-id=3606382243434493&wix-music-comp-id=comp-kjfzbgmx

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Today's blog is dedicated to my niece Kierra Jones! She graduated today! We are so proud of her. She persevered through various situations and finished the race. Our pastor encouraged her to never give up and that she would have As on the brain, by seeking God's help, and she graduated with honors today -- a semester early! I am proud of her willingness to take wise counsel and keep pushing no matter how hard it got! She was a beautiful graduate! Keep going Kierra, there's even more for you on the other side of God's finish line!