My mouth says I want to “run with endurance the race that is set before (me)”, (Heb. 12:1), but my feet often go in the opposite direction.
I get set, and ready to go, until I fall and am ready to cry.
It’s a dichotomy I just can’t beat.
I snap back at my husband when I know a kind word turns away wrath.
Prov. 15:1I think bad thoughts towards a rude person when I need to forgive as I have been forgiven. Col. 3:13
I yell at my children, when God says to bear up under one another in love.
Eph 4:2I judge a sister in Christ when God tells me to first look at the log in my own eye.
Mt. 7:3I take pride in my work when God tells me at the proper time I will be exalted.
1 Pet. 5:6
While my mind says, it’s all for you God, I am running hard and fast for you, my actions say, “it’s still kind of all about me.” I can’t let go. I can’t break through. I can’t succeed with God.”
The pounding of my feet on the sidewalk of God’s mission, start to turn into fists pounding on my heart, saying “Why can’t you just do better?”
Pound. You gotta get it together.
Pound. People won’t see Christ in you.
Pound. Are you really a Christ follower when you mess up so much?
Pound. You are selfish.
And one who is beaten to the ground, can’t be running a good race for Jesus.
One who is pounding themselves, can’t be pounding the ground.
One fallen, can’t be encouraging others.
They can’t “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
As I investigate my heart, my sin, and my desire, I am coming to see that God understands this roadblock too.
In order to run, run, run, we are instructed to unload, unload, unload: “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance…” (Heb 12:1)
Why?
so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Phil 2:6)
Jesus understands the struggle of a heart striving towards him. He doesn’t come to point our our lagger tendencies. He tells us to unload and rise up. To let go, and to move our feet. To say I am sorry, and to speed into his love. To send the failure fits to the sidelines and to move forward in faithful fury.
I’ve noticed, as I can let that go, I no longer feel like a girl running in circles, I no longer feel like the big loser on Olympics day, but instead I start to move forward – in a straight line – gliding into forgiveness, forging into peace, wholeheartedly striding into hope and joyfully pumping into the cheering applause of my loving Savior who roots me on with all that he is.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 1 Cor. 9:26
The question is not will I fall, because I will. The question, is – will I unload, confess and believe the promises of God (aka – get back up again), because this is where the race is won. This is where I stop pounding myself for every bad action and start pounding the streets with the message of Jesus Christ crucified and glorified.
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I love the idea of unloading. Sooooooo necessary! It’s funny how I never realize how much I have to unload until I mess up. Right then, that should cue to just go to God. Kneel before him and unpack all I’m carrying on my own! Thanks, Kelly!
Let’s just shove it to the side and get on with it! YAY! We are running towards something great.
Beautiful post, Kelly! I love this response to Suzie’s prompt. (Don’t you just love her prompts?) I so get what you say at the beginning of this post. God’s word tells us EXACTLY what we should do, and we end up doing the opposite. So refreshing to unload, receive forgiveness and get back up again! Let’s run towards Him!
I do love them! So awesome. God is with us, he pulls us up by our bootstraps and says, “Come with me!” Let’s go Betsy. Much love to you.
Hey Kelly! Yes, I’m good at ‘pounding’ on myself too. I hate it when I make mistakes. I feel like I’ve let God down! But I have to take those thoughts captive and replace them with God’s promises from HIs word. When I do, there is freedom! Thanks for the good word today:)
Right?! God has all truth pouring into us. I want to hear it so badly. Thank you for your comment Kristine. Have a blessed Thursday.
“Jesus understands the struggle of a heart striving towards him. He doesn’t come to point our our lagger tendencies. He tells us to unload and rise up. To let go, and to move our feet. To say I am sorry, and to speed into his love. To send the failure fits to the sidelines and to move forward in faithful fury.”
Amen, yes, and amen again!
Michelle, thank you so much for visiting today. I am so glad that line spoke to you in a strong way. God loves us so much, lets join hands to run into all he is!
Good morning, Kelly,
This message to cease striving, and surrender all into His loving and capable hands is being repeated to me over and over these days. It seems it’s a lesson many of us are learning, and I guess there’s some solace in knowing that I am not alone in being a little slow to learn – or at least learn to apply this truth! But instead of beating myself up over it, I’ll take your advice, get back up, and continue the race.
Blessings and hugs,
Kamea
Hi Kamea! I hope you are well. Thank you for your insight. It does seem like a process of more and more and more letting go of all that holds. I am finding peace in that process, but it almost takes a continual awareness. God is good and he works in hearts that seek him, so we can both be encouraged!
I felt that pound, pound, pound as I ran and walked yesterday. I wondered if I’d ever just run without having to stop and walk for a period of time, and then I gave myself grace. I started to enjoy the spurts of running. <3 Thanks, Kelly, for being you.
I am so glad you grabbed grace and enjoyed the moment Suzie. It’s full of so much more joy, isn’t it?
“Jesus understands the struggle of a heart striving towards him.” Kelly, I find such comfort and grace in this. God knows I’m a finite, sinful, frail girl who really does desire to obey him, but who often struggles because I am, well, finite, sinful and frail! I love the picture of casting off these weights at Jesus’ feet as I continue to run, not just once but as often as necessary. Despite my many weaknesses, he is for me, and I’m so grateful!
Lois, how right you are. He does understand the struggle and I am so blessed by that. Let’s cast aside all that burdens to run unhindered.
As a runner, I had to click this link. I was visiting your today post, and I noted the title of your past one. I pound the pavement and my mind/heart with those same questions/scriptures. I appreciate you linking these thoughts together and revealing your humble heart. We are weak. He is strong. We fail. His Word never will. We run, and he helps us find the strength to do one day a time. We receive loving grace and forgiveness so that we can in turn share that with others. Faith is a marathon not a sprint. We train our hearts, bodies, and minds in Christ. It is a forever partnership. He leads. We learn. jenn
Yes, let’s push through the marathon Jenn. Let’s hit it hard and diligently for Jesus. Thank you for your sweet comments this morning. Love it!
Such a good post, Kelly…hidden behind the Cross…there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…our only hope ❤️
Thank you Beth! I love how you put that – “hidden behind the cross.” Love it.
Oh Kelly, yes, let’s “stop pounding myself for every bad action and start pounding the streets with the message of Jesus Christ crucified and glorified.” Thank you for always cheering me on in my faith, sweet sister!
Let’s go! It’s a blessing to be a mutual encouragement. Much love to you Kim!
Moving forward in faith, undeterred, eyes fixed on Jesus – it’s often easier said than done, isn’t it? Eeek – I can think of a time (or ten) when I’ve fallen, then laid there staring up at the sky trying to get my bearings – for what feels like forever. So glad that our faith is one that picks us up, dusts us off, and propels us forward – and that God is gracious every. single. step. of the way!
It can be so hard to do Tiffany. It’s so hard to have the desire and to miss the mark. I praise God with you Tiffany, that he pours out grace after grace after grace on us. We are free in that love.
Hey i’m a guy no fair all women replies, but that was great uplifting,inspiring and uplifting never looked at it that way thanks that’s where the sneakers meets the road
Thank you for responding Jacob. I love having men respond, so your comment made me smile super big. I am delighted that you felt uplifted and inspired. Walk, run and move – full of God’s grace – towards your maker. He loves you so much.
Hello,
I am a complete loser. I never win anything. Not even in my spiritual journey to God. I can’t get past God’s silence, absence, broken promises, and unanswered prayers. The silence and absence makes me feel like doesn’t care about me as He is never here. Why would He want to associate with a loser like me. I must be the biggest loser for God to break all His promises and never answers my prayers. Only a complete piece of crap loser suffers God’s neglect. Yes I believe God is neglecting me. God made me a loser and is punishing me for it. Only losers are punished for others (God’s) actions. Everything in my miserable existence has failed, fallen apart, or just disintegrated. My existence is a big failure. I need God’s help to stop being a loser, but again God isn’t here for me. Thanks.
God bless you, through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus holy name, Amen.
Bless you because He won’t bless me.