Hitting Your Stride...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 7:54AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!
Now on to my topic...
Today I had another much-needed workout at the YMCA. After cycle class, a few of us hit the treadmills for a short run. I especially love the treadmill that faces the window. I love to look outside, focus on the sky while listening to music that inspires me, and I like to settle in to a steady pace for the duration of my workout.
With a new year before us (not to mention a new decade) we have a life to live, some God-appointed tasks to fulfill, some relationships to build, and some growing to do. How tempting it is to run haphazardly through each day, this way, then that way, never really hitting our stride and moving into the best of what God has for us!
I remember a time when I first started running. It wasn't pretty. After running a couple of miles, I stumbled onto my block with my mouth hanging open, my pony tail in disarray, my steps scattered to the right and the left, and from the distance, looking like I had just escaped from a prison in the desert. One of my neighbors poked her head out the door and asked, "You okay?" I looked up and smiled and said, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
Later, I learned a better more efficient way to run, one that wastes less energy. For starters, I learned to run in a straight line (as opposed to sloppy, side to side steps when I was tired). I learned to look ahead and focus. I learned not to run too fast at the outset. And I learned to pace myself.
Let's take some of these lessons for running our spiritual race this year. If we're intentional about it, we'll get farther, accomplish more, feel better, and waste less energy on superficial things. After all, the Bible calls us to 'run the race to win!'
Eliminate the energy drainers ~ What in your life is draining the life right out of you? Are you filling a slot out of obligation and not because God asked you to? Have you committed to something so that others won't be disappointed or so they'll have a favorable opinion of you? Or maybe you've developed a wasteful habit and you know it's taking up too much of your time. Ask the Lord for wisdom and take the steps to straighten out the path ahead of you. Put your energy into the highest and best things God has for you!
Keep your focus ~ As you go through each day, where do the majority of your thoughts land? Are you thinking about your never-ending task list? Are you consumed with your fears, doubts and worries? Maybe your eyes are on your selfish ambitions and not on your God-sized call; this will surely take you off track. To hit your true stride, you have to focus on your Coach, and listen to His cues. He will say to you, "This is the way, walk in it." As we block out the distractions that threaten to pull us off track, we will more instinctively run the race marked out before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your ears attentive to Him.
Keep your pace ~ Some have a tendency to move too slow; to need a thousand confirmations before committing to something; they tend to drag their feet when it comes to blazing new trails. Others move too fast. They jump ahead without a clear plan; they get ahead of God's plan; they burn themselves out on the first leg of the race. We want to last long and finish strong. As we eliminate the energy drainers and as we keep our eyes on Jesus, our true priorities will come into view. God may be calling you to new places, and new races. Don't be afraid to step out! God may be calling you to hunker down and hang in there with your current race. Dig deep and keep moving. He will tell you when it's time to speed up, and when it's time to pull back and save yourself for the hill ahead. Run at the pace HE tells you to!
Your pace will look different than everyone else's because life has its seasons. But that won't bother you too much, nor will you notice it much if you keep your eyes fixed straight ahead - on Jesus. Listen to His cues and put your heart into the race He has set before you. That's how you run to win. You run for Him.
Be intentional this year about where you put your time, thoughts, energy, and talents. The world needs your influence and God has appointed a special race just for you.
Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God (Hebrews 12:1-2 MSG).
Until next week~
Reader Comments (15)
May the Lord bless you with health and strength, pace and perspective.
Peace!
"Happy New Year!!"Second I love that you said we need to need to be intentional about where we spend our time. God has spoken that to me over and over again. I do so many things intentionally- like getting dressed, putting on my make up... I want to make time with the Jesus more a priority than ever. Not because He wont love me because I love Him so much I have to!Lastly this verse speaks loudly to my life in ChristPsalm 103:1-5, "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like theeagle 's."He has redeemed my life from the pit and I want to shout it out to the world!
God bless you dear Susie~
I was just appointed to Women's ministry leader, something new for our church, and my greatest desire is to lean on the Lord, not go ahead, not lag behind. I am excited for the opportunity to be listening more keenly than ever before, and to be more disciplined in my use of time.
I have pondered much the value of vision. Of having a clear goal to direct our daily choices...
btw, my friend Holly that you prayed with me for~at Women of Faith, IS experiencing healing!! Slowly... but holding out to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! I didn't realize at the time we prayed, but that verse is in Psalm 27, which is the psalm that the Lord kept giving me to pray over Holly! HE IS SO GOOD!Blessings to you Susie!Love, Kathy
I keep stealing little bits and pieces of your wisdom because they resonate with me so much at this moment(always with proper citation of course), I hope that you don't mind being my muse of choice right now. Thank you for sharing these words with us!
Focusing on that caused me last summer/fall to really examine my life and cut out (nearly everything actually). My job as an instructor, babysitting, a ministry at church...) BUT it is amazing because now I truly feel that I'm able to focus on what He has called me too. My family and those kids who have no one to call mom and dad - primarily those in the foster care system.
I told you we are in the midst of some makeover projects - and it seems this is just the tip of the iceberg. I truly believe God has big things in store for the orphan this year and I am honored and excited to be a part of it.
God is so faithful! So faithful.
Bless you!
Jami
That passage from Psalm 103 is one of my favorites. I pray it all of the time. May God bless you richly as you earnestly pursue Him. I know He will! Blessings, my friend.
Thank you for your post. You are going to be one amazing Women's Ministry Directors! They are so blessed to have you. May God protect and strengthen you as you blaze new trails in His name. And such good news about your friend. God is with her, that's for sure.
Thanks for your post. I'm so glad you find things worth quoting here. May God open new doors of ministry for you as you speak out for Him! Blessings to you!
I remember when God called me to step out of teaching fitness classes. It was such a tough decision, but I knew I was giving up the good for the best of what God had for me. And in short order, His new plan unfolded before my eyes. I love your heart for the orphan and can't wait to meet you at the Hearts conference this year. Bless you, sister!
You always make me smile. Thanks for being such an inspiration.Love you!
So I already said that to you? Am I getting old, or what? Anyway, I do think that far too many people miss the best of what God has for them because of their love affair with the known and the comfortable. May we always be willing to follow Him to the unknown, promised places He has for us!Peace to you~