Running in the Spiritual

I am hoping that this is the last day of my "no running" and "just resting" days. Tomorrow I plan on giving my new size 10 shoes an easy 2 miler workout on the treadmill. My plan is to take it nice and slow. I am a little apprehensive. I just don't want to over do it or jump into anything too early. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since my last run. I guess I'll find out how my body responds soon enough.

As far as my running blog goes, I did not keep up with it like I thought I would. Eventually, I think I will get all my past running stories posted, the ones that I was planning on posting, the ones that are worth telling about and writing about.

Emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, I am feeling better and stronger. I am thankful to the Lord for this down time. It has been a chance to see I am a lot more vulnerable than I care to admit during times of physical difficulty and trial. Not that this is what I want to see, but in seeing this, it is humbling to me and allows me to see that I am not near the person I want or desire to be in Christ. It brings to light my ever present weaknesses and challenges me to pursue God with greater determination and work out my salvation that deeper sanctification will be made in me. This is what it really means to "run the race of faith." I've had a "detour of sorts" from running the physical to running the spiritual.

"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 may not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

These verses fortify my faith and help me to remember what "race" is of ultimate importance and in what "race" to truly endure. I know not what life circumstances will help me learn endurance for my run in the spiritual realm. But God does. And it is His prerogative to providentially send them my way as He sees fit.

As I keep a fixed heart on what Christ endured, I know my circumstances are but so little in comparison. Because of this, I know my circumstances really don't have any power to weary me in such a way as to lose heart. Never to take my eyes off Christ. This is the key for endurance in our spiritual run.