As a new believer, you are tempted to live as you did before. Every attempt you make to run or be righteous is tempted by the option to walk or sin.  You are in a seemingly impossible position. On one hand you are a new believer, you know something is different yet you still struggle with the same sins.  On the other hand, you thought that the decision to follow Jesus was going to make the struggle against sin as easy as turning a light off when you leave a room. The truth is it isn’t. You have made yourself a target. Satan is now intentionally pursuing you. Why is he after you? Why does he seem to be tempting you at every corner? Because you made yourself a threat the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You have officially entered the spiritual race and are now an active runner, not just an observer.  The writer of Hebrew says:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.’ . . .”

Hebrews 12:1-29

Your life will experience the same ups and downs as my run did the other day. You will encounter spiritual highs and spiritual lows. You will experience feast and famine but now you are a participant in the race. And ultimately — we run to victory.