Running

I went to a paved trail with the intent and purpose of walking 3 miles. Now God had already told me He wants me back running (jogging). So I started my walk. As I walked my mind and spirit were restless. I could not figure out why. So I prayed to Jesus. “What is wrong?” Yeah, you can already see the answer can’t you. “You're supposed to be running.” Is what He said.

So I said “Ok Lord. I’ll run the last ¼ mile back.” Then I stopped myself, literally in my tracks. “No” I told myself. I’m not supposed to be bargaining with God. I am supposed to say an obedient Yes and do whatever He asks of me. So I ran the last 1.5 miles back.

I wish I could say it was easy. It wasn’t. I am out of shape. (I haven’t seriously run in 5 years.) I had to stop a few times. Each time I stopped. Jesus would press me forward. “Ok Desiree, go to that tree and then rest. Go to that shade area and then rest.” I kept praying as I ran. The sweat running down my face, into my eyes. At the next rest stop I told Jesus I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to finish and please help me to not stop. He did. I ran the last ¼ mile without stopping. I cranked up Toby Mac on the iPod part of my iPhone and looked at my feet as I ran. Jesus said: “Don’t look ahead, that’s the future. Look at the here and now and focus on what needs to be done now.”

You should have seen the smile on my face when Jesus said “Look up. You’re done.” You know without Jesus, it’s difficult and you want to just quit for good. With Jesus, it’s actually possible.