Life Really Is A Race
Good Morning Girls! I'm going to let you all in on a little secret.......I do not enjoy running in races. I enjoy running, on my own, as excercise. I enjoy going to the race, and hanging out with frineds. I enjoy crossing the finish line. It's the part that comes between hanging out with friends, and crossing the finish line that I do not like. I don't like the pressure I feel to be faster. I don't like everyone else passing me by. I don't like how my chest feels like I can't get enough air. I don't like the mental warfare that I battle the whole time. Sounds fun huh? So why do I keep doing it? The Lord told me to. All of the things that I hate during the race, are things that happen in real life that I need to deal with. When I run a race, I have to deal with all of them at the same time. It is like an intense training session. I believe it is God's training ground for me. I have shared with you all before that 80% of the things the Lord reveals to me, occur while I am working out, not while I am studying or in prayer. The prayer and studying prepare me for what He is going to teach me. He gives me a verse during my study and prayer time, He revels its meaning for me later, when I am working out. Or, He speaks to me as I work out, and it makes me want to find a verse to go with what He is showing me. Back to the race. So, here I am, running two weeks ago thinking the whole time "why am I doing this? this is dumb. I don't like this. I want to quit. I wish I could quit. there is no way I am going to sign up for another one of these. I can't believe I pay for this torture." Around mile marker 2, I finaly caught hold of my thoughts and started seeking the Lord. I started reciting verses, praying in the Spirit, (what I could huff and puff out anyway), and asking the Lord why He has me doing these races. The last mile was much better, but it seemed neverending. I was sure they had incorrectly measured the distance. In fact, I was starting to think to myself "I can't go any further. I just can't. I don't want to quit, but I can't go anymore. I am not going to walk right now (out of pride), but I think I may very well fall over right now." Then I saw it, the finish line! I kept my eyes straight forward and ran. As soon as I crossed the line, I felt great! I grabbed a water, was energized, and able to encourage and cheer on Renee (who was so close behind me that I almost missed her) as she crossed the finish line! Yesterday the Lord brought me back to the race. He ran the "process" through my head again. The way I first grumbled and wanted to quit, then the turn around where I sought Him out, then having the Lord, but still feeling like I couldn't go on another step, to crossing the finish line and being able to encourage someone else. Can you figure out what He was showing me? He was showing me how when adversity strikes, I tend to grumble and then I wake up, and seek the Lord, I let Him carry the burden, however, when things take longer that I anticipate I begin to lose heart and feel like I can't go on, and finaly, just when I am about to throw in the towel, there is the finish line! After I cross the adversity, I am able to turn around and encourage someone else as they near their finish! Isn't that awesome! To me Girls, the things that I have learned along the way, are the reasons why I continue to pay $20 for an ugly t-shirt, and 32 minnues of torture!
James 1: 2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing
Love you all-
Jen
James 1: 2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing
Love you all-
Jen
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