Last night I went a run for the first time since the whole "interruption" incident last week. I love running. It is the most intimate time that I spend with the Lord. The Lord speaks the most directly and deeply to my heart more often when I'm running than when I'm just chilling. I know..probably a little weird, but hey, don't limit God ;]
Usually when I go for runs I focus solely on Jesus and what exactly He's trying to teach me at that specific time in my life. Not only does it make the run "go by faster" by the time is a lot sweeter. I absolutely LOVE running. (Yes, I know I've already said that once) I just thought the second emphasis would draw all of you readers into how much I really love it.
I also neverrrr listen to my Ipod when I'm running, because I like to hear the noises of what's going on around me. However, last night I took my Ipod. I put Will Reagan & United Pursuit's "Set the Fire" on replay (thanksMegan). It goes like this:
No place I would rather be
No place I would rather be
No place I would rather be
Then here in Your love, here in Your love
So, set a fire down in my soul
That I can't contain
And I can't control
I want more of You, God
I want more of You, God
It was the most worship-filled run of my life. I'm not sure if anyone was watching me..but I was for sure running down the streets, with my hands in the air, and a huge smile on my face. If people were watching..they probably thought I was crazy. That's ok, because I am, crazyyy about Jesus.
Jesus has just been so sweet to my heart this past week. I believe these lyrics. I long to live these lyrics out more. The goodness that the Lord has showered over me this week has been incredible. He has spoke deeply to my heart about patience and surrender. He has convicted my heart about things that I'm believing to be true that aren't and rights that I think that I deserve, but don't. Like how often I expect things to be easy -nothing is ever easy. He has shown me what it's like to feel helpless or hopeless, but how I can't rest there. Ultimately, I was created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It's not about performance. It's not about being perfect or even feeling wanted or desired. It's solely about God.
So, I spent the majority of my run thanking God for every single thing I could possibly think of. For having the opportunity to go to college, having an education, having awesome people around me, having awesome people that support and encourage me, for being discipled, for having the ability to run, for awesome running shoes, for bringing me to Newport News, for my job at WEC, for having an incredible family, for having two parents, for having a ballin' twin sister, for photography, for camelback water bottles with a straw, for good books, for worship music, for hard times, for laughter, for the World Race, for relationships, for roommates.. I could go on. It. was. amazing.
After I got back to my street, I ended with my normal cool down. This run was especially strenuous. It was SUPER humid outside, and I already had felt dehydrated before I even started running. And as I mentioned before, this was my first super intense work out since last weeks interruption. Jesus totally showed up and I went straight in to my normal cool down process. Easy breathing, normal heart rate, it was a beautiful thing.
Praise Jesus for such an awesome week so far!
