New Game Plan

My time exercising in the morning is most precious. It enables me to breathe. {figuratively}

I was a little surprised this morning to feel the Spirit urging me to shake things up a bit. 

I have tried to be a runner several times, and while I love most everything about running, I have realized that I am not destined to be a runner. 

Which is fine with me.

But last week I needed to run.

And I did. A lot.

And I sort of loved it again. 

And so today, as I prayed and worshiped, I felt the Lord, dare I say telling me, to alternate running with fast walking up the two hills in my neighborhood.

Huh. 

But I obeyed.

Strength mixed with endurance

I recognized that immediately.

And as I struggle with new levels of faith and trust, I also saw the spiritual implications. 

Strength of faith/trust/hope. Exercising my faith. Working it out, along with my salvation. Feeling it pushed and pulled and stretched and worked out until it's exhausted. 

Strength

Grow my faith.

Make it strong. 

I can't stop thinking about the woman in Matthew 15:21-28.

Her faith was so strong, and Jesus praised her for it. 

Ah, to have my faith praised by Christ...

And endurance

The ability to run this long, hard race. 

We learned Hebrews 12 in song in school a couple of weeks ago. I sing it at the top of my lungs:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

      For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

Run. 

And then run some more. And keep running. 

And much like most every morning I huff, "This might kill me..." I think the same about this walk with Him. 

But oh, He is faithful. And wise. And perfect. And worthy of complete trust. And faith. And I will yet hope in Him.

And music not only also helps me breathe, it helps me exercise. This is what I am currently addicted to. This album is free. Please get it. 

{I played "Revelator" over and over and over again this morning}