One of the things I like about how I workout is that it uses rate of perceived exertion - meaning you workout to what your best is that day. The beauty of this is that as long as you are honest with yourself, you always get a solid workout.
Running the race with the Father is much the same. There might be times in the race where we find our groove, where He has led us beside cool waters and given us some rest. But the race will continue to increase in intensity if we are running this to get closer and closer to the Father. There is no level of faith we will arrive at wherein the remainder of the race is easy. We are constantly growing with the Father as He shapes and molds us and draws our hearts closer to His as He increases in us.
The LORD's reply to Jeremiah's complaints:
“If racing against mere men makes you tired,
how will you race against horses?
If you stumble and fall on open ground,
what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?" {Jer 12:5}
Realizing the race will continue to increase in intensity has given me an odd sense of peace, of being settled. Because I see now my struggle is not something to ashamed of, but to embrace so the Father's glory shines brightly through me. Just because I struggle does not mean that my faith has not increased. My faith can deepen and increase in the Father and yet I can continue to struggle as the race intensifies. However, as that increase and deepening occurs, the struggle itself changes. What was a struggle is not as much any longer. What I could never have fathomed handling a time ago is now a struggle in which He is giving me victory. Struggle does not mean that faith has not increased. Rather it could mean that the race is intensifying.
Oh Lord, fortify your servant's spirit that she is ready to face the race before her. Give her the strength to run the race with perseverance, steadfastly walking with You. Her spirit is timid, but resolute, and you, oh my King, provide Your servant with courage to step out in faith as You direct. Your servant longs to walk with You, day and night, moment by moment. Draw your servant close to You - may she become more of You each day. Lord bless your servant that she may run with You and to You always, with her focus always upon You, oh Yahweh!
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