How comfortable are you?
How content are you?
What do you wish was different in your life?
What character qualities do you wish was part of who you are?
What dreams and desires do you have that you wish you could move forward with?
What is holding you back?
There are plenty of things in each person’s life that they wish was different. Circumstances, people, attitudes, motivation, time, tiredness… you name it. Take a moment to think about it in your own life. What do you wish was different? I sure can think of plenty and the past few years I have found a big improvement in things being different, prayers being answered, people’s hearts changing, forward motion in my dreams taking place…there are so many things.
Can I tell you a secret?
You don’t have to be stuck in one spot. Actually the reality is that if something is not used it deteriorates. It doesn’t just stay stationary or in an as-is-condition. What happens to a person who never uses their muscles as they get older? They start losing muscle altogether. What happens to a house if you let it go? It crumbles, becomes animal and bug infested, and falls apart.
The only way you can change something is through prayer. Our prayers move the hand of God in a way that nothing else can. God works through people and He delights in answering our prayers. He wants us to come to Him so that we can draw closer to Him because He knows that that is where life is found. In Jesus!
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
Can I challenge you this week to make a list of everything you wish was different in your life and then commit to start praying about them? This is what set me on the greatest path of my life and still is. God almost on a daily basis asks me, “What do you want?”And in return I ask Him, “What do you want?”Eventually, as you continue to seek Him, your desires will line up with God’s so don’t worry about making your requests “religious”. Just share your heart with Him!
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
A loving relationship is when people give 100% to the other person. They both unselfishly delight in granting each other’s wishes. Think about that as you share your requests with God. And don’t forget to ask Him in return!
He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32
Prayer is the secret to gaining forward momentum in moving forward in life so you don’t have to be stuck anymore! Here are some of the requests that have been on my heart recently to give you an idea.
- Lord, you have called me to share my love of running, and comparing it to the Christian life. My mind is blank and I need you to give me the words and the concentration to write it down so I can share.
- Lord, you know the desires of my heart and you know you are my greatest delight, and I know that you have never let your words fall to the ground, but you’re always faithful and keep your promises. Please grant my desire and help me stay focused on you in the process. Prepare me for the answer to my prayers so that when the time comes you will be glorified.
- Lord, I feel this rush of frustration; please help me respond in the right way.
- Lord, I need you to be my encouragement. Like David encouraged himself in the Lord, I need you in order to keep going.
This list is obviously not exhaustive but it should give you an idea. Of course there is a lot of complaining and sharing my hurts with Him as well, but that don’t need to be shared because we all know what that looks like!
I love you all and pray that God would give you grace to begin seeking Him! Happy Running!
*Caution: Although everything in this post to my knowledge is biblical correct, (and feel free to correct me if it’s not,) please, please, please do not take this to the extreme thinking that God is going to grant your every request in exactly the way you want Him to. If you are not careful with this thinking you can slip over into the Prosperity Gospel real quick and that is a dangerous place to be. Prayer is talking to a Holy God that created you and knows you more intimately than you know yourself. He knows what is best for you and even though He wants to grant your desires, He doesn’t always do so because He knows where it will lead you down the road. And honestly, in my experience I have noticed that He does grant all my desires as I seek Him, I just may not realize it is a desire till it happens and then I’m grateful He didn’t answer my requests instead. Trust Him and seek Him with all your heart so you can understand why He answers your prayers the way He does. Dig into the testimonies in Scripture so you can better understand His heart and gain some clarity on why He does what He does. Study Him just like you would study the love of your life while you’re dating. Seek His heart and you won’t be disappointed! Freedom in prayer comes when you can share anything you want with Him and because you trust Him and know He loves you, you are perfectly okay with what ever the outcome is because all that matters is HIM!
Be Still and Run 