So...I've been running for about a year now. I found new places within myself during this journey. God keeps pushing me to deeper levels with Him through this.
A few things God revealed to me today:
1. Running Posture-Spiritual Posture
I've been reading a bit about running. Since I've picked up my pace and increased distance, I've noticed my knee (on the outside) has been feeling an unusual pain. I think it is related to a band that runs from my hip to the outside of my knee. It's strange how this one long band can cause issues from so far away-the hip to the knee-weird. I LOVE to run and I don't want to have to stop. So I've been researching. Something I learned is that my posture may not have been right. I needed to lean more into my run instead of standing so tall while I ran. I've started to change my posture and the pain has pretty much disappeared. It was AMAZING how one small change could have so much affect on whether I was in pain or not. It's not easy though...I find myself without thinking reverting back to my old posture without realizing and have to be mindful of how I'm standing.
This got me thinking about my spiritual posture. If something like that can be true of my physical nature...this certainly can be true of my spiritual nature. I think we all need adjustments...even if they are ever so slight...to be more tuned into the nature of God. What if my prayer posture changed...again....ever so slightly. If I press into Jesus a little more instead of standing so tall in my own strength. If I press into His word for wisdom instead of standing tall in my own wisdom. What if??? Slight posture changes in both the physical and spiritual world can bring huge changes...so what if we adjusted slightly to make it more about Jesus in us instead of us along side of Him....and yes...we will revert back to previous posture but He will remind us to move back in to Him...
2. Body made for running but needs discipline and training=heart made for worship need training and discipline.
The second thing God revealed to me this morning is that some bodies are born to run, some born to walk, some born to swim, some to ride, etc...but never to just sit it out and ride the couch. I feel like God has made my body in a way that running is something that is more natural to me. My muscles He created in my legs were made for the pounding. I run light...I run quiet...yet...its not completely easy for me. So why is something, that I believe He has created me to be able to do hard? I am thinking its about training and discipline. Just because we were created to do certain things doesn't mean they will be easy to do. I can't put on my running shoes and run a marathon without training...without fuel...without the discipline to get out there several times a week and run short distances. I have to discipline my body so that it is prepared to do what I require of it. I didn't start running at a 9 min mile pace...it was more like a 13-14 min mile pace. The only thing I've done to increase my pace is to keep running.
Spiritual equivalent: We were made to worship our Father. We can choose to worship other things but that hole that we fill with other things was created for one thing alone...for Jesus. No other thing will satisfy. Can I just do this without discipline though? Can I do this without Him training my heart to worship Him. I am carnal...I want to do things in my own way. I want to run an 8 min mile without training...but I can't...its not in His laws of nature. So in my spiritual life...I have to have discipline to worship Him, to spend time with Him, to seek Him, to let Him love on me. Lifting my hands in worship wasn't easy at one time in my life, but with each expression of sacrifice of praise to Him it became easier...now its hard not to lift my hands in surrender to Him. But these things take daily discipline, training, and time. I want Him to cover me completely so I must train to be in Him...everyday...every moment...and I have to do it regularly or it just won't work.
3. Pushing past comfort.
Running has taught me another thing. Its not always comfortable...especially that first and last mile. The first mile...I am continually telling myself to just breathe. The last mile...I want to quit...I want to stop...but my friend Teri pushes me...encourages me...keep going...you are almost there....You can do this.
Pushing past spiritual boundaries is hard. Just getting started in a spiritual journey takes energy. Picking up His word to search out His truth is sometimes hard for me because I have to slow down and sit. But pushing through the boundaries I've set for myself in His word...He teaches me who He is and how much He loves me. How I don't have to get things perfect to have His love and how when I don't know what to do or if I should just sit...I can rest in Him. Chad and I are on a journey to figure out what life with adoption or foster care might look like. This is a huge spiritual boundary for me. Chad and I have a beautiful family. We have a system. We've worked hard at discipling our girls. What does bringing in someone that may not have all that look like...it will push us past boundaries that I'm not sure we can do on our own. Yet, I know that as push through that last mile...He can bring us through in this journey as well.
4. Fuel:
When I first started running 1-2 miles...I didn't eat before a run...I didn't need the extra energy. Now that I am running 5 miles...I need the fuel or I hit a wall and just have a hard time continuing.
When you go for a while without being in His word...you think you might be okay...but to go further...deeper in the journey with Him you need fuel. I need His word...I need His people around me to encourage me...to fill my bucket...in turn I can be encouragement to others...I carry His message but without the fuel of His word...of time with Him...what do I really have to offer?
Anyhow...that's my thoughts for today's run....
