Good Morning Sunshine! The Clock Is Running And You Are In The 4th Quarter. Where Is Your Faith?

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) ~ “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV) ~ “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Some games are not measured in innings but in quarters. Football and basketball divide the battle into four distinct stretches of time, each one demanding something different from the players. The first quarter is about strategy and setup, learning the field, reading the opponent, settling nerves. The second quarter tests endurance as the pace increases and fatigue begins to whisper. The third quarter exposes adjustment, what worked before must be refined, and what failed must be released. But the fourth quarter is where the game is decided. The clock is visible. The margin is clear. Every possession matters. No one is warming up anymore; everyone is all in. Coaches call their best plays. Players dig deeper than fatigue. The fourth quarter doesn’t ask who started strong, it asks who can finish focused. And now the question turns toward you: if this is your fourth quarter, what story will your faith tell when the clock is running down?

So, you just finished the ninth inning, and it prepared you to finish with faith, and now the shift is unmistakable, you have entered the fourth quarter! This is no longer about surviving the pressure but stewarding the purpose on purpose! You did not merely make it through; you learned how to endure, trust, release, and remain faithful, and those lessons have become fuel for this moment. This is where you get your momentum from. The fourth quarter is where clarity sharpens and distractions lose their appeal. There is no confusion about what matters most; Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily entangles us, because finishing well requires focus and freedom of movement.

In this quarter, discipline becomes devotion. You no longer move randomly or emotionally; you move intentionally and prayerfully. Proverbs 4:25 calls you to let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze directly before you, because divided vision leads to divided strength. The fourth quarter reveals your leadership, not just over others, but over your own soul. David strengthened himself in the Lord when pressure mounted (1 Samuel 30:6). This is where you learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord, this encouragement will be self-directed but God-sourced.

Faith in this quarter becomes active trust. James 2:17 reminds us that faith without works is dead, meaning belief now shows up in obedience, integrity, and consistency, even when your body is tired and emotions fluctuate. This is also the quarter where unity matters deeply. Ecclesiastes 4:12 declares that a threefold cord is not quickly broken. God often sends the right voices, the right covering, and the right accountability to help you finish strong instead of isolated. Momentum matters in the fourth quarter. You protect it with prayer, guard it with wisdom, and grow it with praise. Isaiah 40:31 promises renewed strength to those who wait on the Lord, reminding you that endurance is sustained by divine exchange, not human grit.

Here, grace meets effort; Philippians 2:13 assures you that God is working in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (This is one of my favorite scriptures.) You are not finishing alone, heaven partners with every obedient step that you take. The fourth quarter teaches urgency without panic, Psalm 90:12 asks God to teach us to number our days so we may gain a heart of wisdom. You move decisively, not desperately, because wisdom keeps your pace aligned with God’s timing. This is where your resilience is refined, you may take a hit, but you will rise again; Micah 7:8 declares, “When I fall, I shall arise.” Falling does not disqualify you, refusing to rise again does!

The fourth quarter clarifies purpose. You stop chasing applause and start pursuing obedience. Galatians 1:10 reminds you that pleasing God outweighs pleasing people, especially when the finish is near. In this season, memory becomes motivation. You remember what God already brought you through, and that remembrance strengthens your resolve to keep going. Psalm 77:11 calls you to remember the works of the Lord, not as nostalgia, but as fuel. The fourth quarter is where testimony is formed in real time. Revelation 12:11 declares victory through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, and your perseverance is already preaching louder than words. This quarter is not about running faster; it is about running faithful. You are not just trying to win; you are honoring the One who called you to the field in the first place.

The fourth quarter also teaches stewardship of breath, strength, and focus. You learn how to pace yourself spiritually so that nothing is wasted and nothing is rushed. God uses this quarter to strip away shortcuts. There is no bypassing formation here. Everything you are doing now is sealing integrity into your finish. This is the quarter where obedience matures into legacy. What you choose now will echo longer than the cheers or silence around you. You are learning that finishing strong is not loud, it is aligned. It is marked by peace, resolve, and unwavering trust in God. When the clock is running, heaven is watching not with pressure, but with purpose. God is not anxious about the time; He is intentional with it. The fourth quarter does not threaten you, it confirms you. You are still standing because grace has been carrying you.

Let’s Pray:

Father God, I thank You that You have brought me into this fourth quarter with wisdom gained and faith refined. I recognize that every season before this one prepared me for now. Help me finish this quarter with clarity, courage, and obedience. Teach me to lay aside every weight that distracts me from endurance and faithfulness. Strengthen my focus when fatigue tries to cloud my vision. Fix my eyes on You so I do not lose sight of what truly matters. Give me discipline that flows from devotion, not pressure or fear. Let my actions reflect trust in You rather than anxiety about time. Teach me how to encourage myself in You when external encouragement is limited. Let Your Word be my constant source of strength and stability. Father, surround me with the right support and godly voices for this season. Remove isolation and reinforce healthy connection where I need it most. Renew my strength daily as I wait on You. Replace weariness with divine energy and hope with fresh resolve. Father, help me steward momentum wisely. Guard my heart from distractions, shortcuts, or compromises that could weaken my finish. Father, give me urgency without anxiety. Teach me to move decisively while resting securely in Your sovereignty and wisdom. When I stumble, help me rise quickly without shame or hesitation. Remind me that resilience is part of righteous living. Purify my motives in this quarter. Let obedience matter more than recognition and faithfulness more than results. Remind me of Your past faithfulness when doubt tries to speak louder than truth. Let memory fuel perseverance, not fear. Anchor my emotions when pressure rises. Keep my heart steady and my spirit grounded as the clock continues to run. Help me guard my peace fiercely and steward my joy intentionally. Let nothing steal what You have already secured. Prepare me to finish well, not just finish fast. Let wisdom, humility, and grace mark my final steps in this season. Use my life as a testimony even now. Let my endurance glorify You and strengthen others who are still running. Father, I commit this fourth quarter fully to You, Lord. Finish strong in me what You began, and let my life declare that You are faithful from the first whistle to the final moment. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget: The fourth quarter doesn’t reward who rushed, it reveals who remained faithful. When the clock is running, alignment, not anxiety, is what carries you across the finish line!

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean…