At the risk of sounding crazy to most of you… I LOVE running.
Its definetly not the act of running that I love! (phsically its not fun, and its a mental challenge for me most days to actually get my self into my running shoes, get out the door, and then to perservere to the end) But I know if I can get myself out there I will be glad I did.
Today I woke up to the sun streaming into my room. I decided it was a beautiful day for a run (being able to enjoy the outdoors is usually the one factor that will sway my vote to actually go). So, I put on my running clothes, strapped on my i-pod with my worship music and put my feet to the pavement.
Now on to why I love running…
The worship music drowns out all the noise around me. Its just me and the Lord. I pray, I recite scripture, I listen…. or at least try to, and just bask in the presence of the one who formed me! It is such a sweet time for me. Today, the song "Never be the same" by Shana Wilson was playing. It was
such a simple, poignant reminder of the power of an encounter with the Almighty God. I am convinced that is was out of an encounter with Him that I am here on this journey. In the song, Shana says "today's my day… You changed my name… I might limp away… But I'll never be the same!"
One encounter with the living God, one glimpse into His infinite glory, one taste of what that means, and I know I will never be the same. So I love running, because He reminds me of those divine moments when I encounter Him and He changes me. I can't describe it. And it has nothing to do with circumstances in my life, whether they are good or bad. His presence tanscends whatever is going on in my life! Paul says it beautifully in Ephesians 1: 19-21
"And what is the IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named,not only in this age but also in the one to come."
And again later in Ephesians 2: 4-7
" But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages He might show the IMMEASURABLE RICHES of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
We cannot count it, make it fit out logic, or reason it out. Its immeasurable. But I know this… one encounter with His immeasurable greatness and we'll never be the same! Amen.
