I went on a run with the Lord today.
It didn’t start out that way. I thought I’d just go on a quick 1 mile run.
I started in my neighborhood and made my way to the trail that goes through the woods around the church. As I reached the trail, about a quarter into my mile, I heard Him whispering “Do you feel that? Do you see all the life around you? The air in your lungs, your heart beating faster, your muscles moving, I did that, I made that.” I kept running, reflecting on the Lord.
Soon I heard, “Don’t stop until I say. Go slow and steady, but don’t stop.”
“Okay, Lord.”
In the next few minutes, God repeated that to me, “Don’t stop until I say. Follow me. Trust me.” And then, “I am going to push you. You can do it if you rely on me.” {Philippians 4:13}
So I pushed on. Remember, I have been pretty out of shape, so as I exit the trail back onto the street, I’m starting to get worn out so I asked, “Okay God, is this really you? Because I’m getting pretty tired and I don’t want to run around like an idiot if not”
He replied, “I will speak to you clearly. You will hear my words clearer than your own thoughts. Keep going.” So I did. As I hit one mile, huffing and puffing He told me to stop and walk.
“Rest” He said, “but don’t stop. It’s okay to rest but we don’t live here. We live in the Kingdom and in the Kingdom, there is work to be done.”
I kept walking, Holding on to that phrase, “In the kingdom, there is work to be done.”
“Follow me” He said as I reached a second trail. “Run and focus on me.”
My one mile had turned to a mile and a half. “Keep going. Don’t stop until I say. Yes, it hurts but you’ll be okay. Your lungs get tired and your knees hurt because they are getting stronger. Pain = Growth” (Isaiah 66:9) “We’re working on endurance, endurance to run the race. Slow and steady, relying on Me.”
As I neared the end of the second trail and (almost) the end of mile 2, I was about done. God still said, “Keep going. See the road. It’s not that far, you can make it.” And I did.
Then He let me rest. This time I walked longer and soon my breathing and heart rate had slowed done and I was still a ways from home so I knew God wasn’t finished.
I kept walking and thought, “Lord, when you want me to, I’ll go.”
“Just walk. I’ll never push you too hard.”
I responded, “Okay, but I’m ready”
And you know what his response was??
“That’s my girl! See, now that you’ve rested, you’re ready for more! You are faithful and you will do amazing things in my name. I’m so proud of you and I will bless you.”
So, now as I’m smiling to myself and tearing up a bit because, not only am I hearing from the God of the Universe but He just said “That’s my Girl”!!, I hear “You ready? Go.”
And as I continued my run home (and hit 2.5 miles), I heard Him say, “You will do great things, I will give you more. More adventure, more life, more of Me. Because you are faithful and always up for more, because you’ve asked for more.”
This past year I looked for a word, that word was Change. I asked for change, not sure where it would lead me and, boy have things changed.
As I go into next year and begin the World Race, I believe He has been telling me my new word is More.
So I will ask for More. Because I am a part of God’s Kingdom and in the Kingdom, there is work to be done.
