Spiritual Strength

This morning I was filled with anxiety. It might sound silly but I have taken a long break from running and have found myself doing more interval and weight training instead. While I used to run almost daily, the length of time away from running has grown long. Today I decided I needed to at least try to run again. Immediately my anxiety sounded a little something like this, “Will I be able to run consecutively for more than five minutes? Have I lost all ability to run?” As I drove to the gym, I prayed, “Lord, give me the energy and stamina I need to run today. Help me to be thankful for a healthy body rather than grumble about doing something that may be difficult for me.”

Driving home an hour later I was filled with thanksgiving because God did give me the energy and ability I needed to run. But this afternoon I got to thinking. Have I prayed lately for spiritual energy? Have I asked God to revive the parts of my heart I haven’t used in awhile? It hit me that I haven’t. Why is it so easy to ask God for all sorts of requests that fulfill temporary problems, but when it comes to our spiritual lives we lose sight of His provision?

Today I read Luke 18:27 which says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” It got me thinking about my spiritual purpose and it brought back to mind hat any ounce of strength or stamina I have is from Him! What task does God have for me that without Him I would never be able to accomplish? What impossible thing might He have for me in the next day or week?

My response will be prayer. I am going to begin praying , “Lord, open up my eyes to the possibilities around me. Give me daily strength that only comes from you to be obedient and to hear your voice. Lord, I want to feel spiritually strong today, help me remember where my strength comes from. Amen.”

A Reminder

I overheard a woman today, telling of her recent visit to South Africa. She shared that one of the biggest differences between here and there is that the people of South Africa live in the present. They rarely talk about tomorrow or next month or how next year they need to do this or that. She went on to say they commented on the flowers, they recognized the world around them. They appreciate today for all that it offers them, instead of anxiously stressing over tomorrow. This got me thinking about my own life. Where am I living? Is my mind already onto next summer, week or fall or am I enjoying what God has given me today? While making plans and preparing for the future is one of favorite things to do, I do not want my today to go by unnoticed. I want to allow myself to hear the sounds around me, notice the weather outside, and feel the joy of my newlywed days. In the blink of an eye, this season I am in now will vanish; what if I never stop to capture it? I want to take a lesson from the South Africans and be available for the present. The verse in Matthew 6:34 perfectly reminds me of this truth as well. “"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” I urge you to slow down, calm down and wind down. Today is the place that God has us, so let’s embrace what He has for us right here, right now and experience His gifts.