SO, I am becoming a runner, not a long distance runner, not running sprints or marathons, or even 3k's , but I am running , nonetheless, in my basement of my home either by way of treadmill or Wii Fit! How on earth do I do that? By jogging in place and running virtually through a green, plush landscape that never has bad roads, you can see virtually anyone while you run and even have a trainer along to keep you on pace. 21st century excercise at its best!
Not really, but it is fun and gets you moving, and sometimes can even teach us something new about our journey with Jesus!
A few weeks ago, as my husband and I were praying together over several family matters, I was reminded that my running the race with Jesus was similar to that of running with my trainer on Wii Fit. You see, the trainer keeps you moving at a steady pace. My trainer looks back every once in a while to make sure I'm still moving forward and waves me on in my journey. if I start to run too fast and overtake my trainer, he slows me down and keeps me on the path that has been set out for me. Also, the trainer knows where the finish line is, knows the best route, and how to get there, while I get all the benefits of running the race that has been set out for me!How often do I do those things when walking/running with Jesus? I often challenge the path that He has set before me to walk, or try to run ahead and blaze my trail. Often times I stop altogether when I then don't have Jesus as my leader, or injure myself by running into spiritual potholes or stumbling blocks. If I just keep my eyes on the path set before me and on Jesus, I will run a more steady course.
Of course there are times that we do need to stop and rest b/c of pitfalls and road hazards.
These are times when we especially need to have our heavenly dad with us, guiding us, cheering us. I heard a story a long time ago about a runner who was sprinting to the end of a race when he fell and injured himself to the point where he could not stand, nor finsh the race. His dad was nearby in the crowd, cheering him on, when he witnessed His son's injury. The father of the runner then went into the race, picked up his son and began to walk while carrying his son, to the finish line, thereby helping his son complete the race that he had started. My friends, there will be times when we fall, when we are injured, when we literally can not walk, that our Father desires to come and pick us up and carry us until we can stand on our own two feet alone. that is why it is so important that He runs the race with us and preferably, ahead of us!! How many hurtful things would we bypass if he was able to navigate for us?
Our journey is a beautiful thing , a real walk with Jesus, not a virtual one. He longs to come into your journey and walk with you! Will you let Him?
