“Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their your will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:5-9
Growing up, and even to this day, personal devotions have always been a struggle for me. I tell myself every new year, that ‘This is the year I will be dedicated to daily bible reading, and discipline myself enough to read through my bible”. Let’s be honest, it lasts for about a week or so. Lent season (40 days before Easter) rolls around, and I tell myself that I want to get through all 4 Gospels and make a deliberate effort to read God’s word…yet by day 4, I am already 3 days behind.
Why is this?
As part of my morning/daily devotions, I have begun reading through the book of Isaiah. It is a book that I have read before, but never fully READ. I got really good at ‘speed reading’ through college and that is how I have treated this particular book in the past. Yet now, 11 chapters in, and God is already ‘smacking me upside the head’ trying to get my attention with His word. Each chapter, truth has been spoken into my life. There is so much depth and wisdom within Isaiah and all of the Old Testament, and I am finding myself craving it more and more. Its addicting. I read the above passage today and the beauty of God's Kingdom to come, is amazing. Seriously…the LION laying down with a lamb?!? A little child to lead them? How amazing will that be?
As a squad, we have only actually been in Albania for 5 full days, yet already, I know I am not the same person that I was when I left home less than 2 weeks ago. There have been a lot of different things already that have played into that and you know what? I am happy with that. Our ministry contact here, said something one of the first days that has stuck in my head since. He said (something along the lines of), when you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, say goodbye to the person who you see, as that is the last time you will see them. His point was this, we change. We grow. Somedays, we take leaps of bounds in our growth. Yet other days we take baby steps. Each is okay and each is needed. Each moment that we run after Jesus, we are becoming more like our Creator. That’s power. That is the life Christ has called us to live.
I heard of an interesting comment that came towards me prior to leaving for the race. The comment said, went something like this "What is she (as in me) 'running' from?" They way it was said/directed really hit a nerve with me. For people who know me, will know I am not running FROM anything…but rather I am running TOWARDS someone Greater. Hebrews 12:1-2 explains it better than I will ever be able to.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
So yes, I am running. I am running towards someone Greater. A life worth living. A freedom and Hope worth bringing. Jesus called us to "go"…I heard Him call me and I am running at Him with my arms wide open.
What race are you running? What are you ‘running’ from?
OR, better yet, whose race are you running? And WHO are you ‘running’ TOWARDS?
