Running at night

I was murmuring to myself about the dark.  I was thinking about how I had to race home to run before dark, and now that's not even possible! I ordered a reflective vest so oncoming cars could see me.  Tonight was the night.  The darkest run I've had so far, and my reflective vest came just in time - today!  That took the edge off of my murmuring mood and off I went.

Now before you think I'm bragging about running, let me just say this.  I. Move. My. Feet.  And, I do this activity 3 times a week at best.  It's not that I am athletic!  Ironically, it actually helps my fibromyalgia pain.  Even when I feel yucky, I know that if I let too many days go by without a run, I will feel even worse.  So there are tons of lessons I learn from this moving of my feet, but tonight it's about the night.

I noticed that I really enjoyed the run, and I think it is for a non-athletic reason!  I couldn't see how far I had to go!  All I could see was about 10 feet ahead from street lamp to street lamp.  I was not thinking about the next hill, or block, or the long stretch, just what was ahead.  I was thinking about the nice warm breeze ( and how it might be the last!) and watching my shadow dance on the road.  I enjoyed seeing my vest light up as lights would pass me by.  I wasn't thinking about speed or distance, I was just enjoying the moment.  But, I did know where home was, and I knew I could be seen.

It just gave me a picture of life.  When we belong to Jesus, we don't know what tomorrow holds.  But we do know where home is.  When we belong to Jesus, it's like putting on our reflective vest.  Others know where we are heading.  Jesus always knows where we are heading.  And living in eternity with Him will be the ultimate home.

One other cool thought came to me.  Without the reflective vest no one can see me.  But with it on the vest reflects the light shining on me.  Without Jesus I can come up with some short term methods to "fix" things.  But eventually people will see through and see my faults.

But with Jesus in me, they will see my faults, but more importantly, His reflection through all the cracks in me.  2 Corinthians 4:7-8  "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;"

So when it's dark, instead of worrying about the unknowns, we can focus on the hear and now.  The Psalmist even uses "night" language a lot.  Psalm 63:6-7 says, "I lie awake thinking of you , meditating on you through the night, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.…"

This is just a short and simple post.  I have been putting meditation to practice with Isaiah 32:17 this week.  "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."  When we belong to Jesus, we are covered in His robes of righteousness.  When we let this sink in, we realize that we have peace, quietness, and confidence.

I've had a couple panic attacks this fall.  The details are not important.  I don't like me when this happens.  I sometimes get stuck on the lie that I should be able to control that on my own.  Self- condemnation is a vicious circle of lies.  We think we are too bad to be loved by God.  When in reality we are too bad, but that is the point, we need Jesus!  Our pride would have us beat ourselves up instead of turning to grace and mercy.  

Truth is, I need Jesus every minute.  The fact is, I will always need the simple gospel to keep me on track.  I will always need Jesus, the One Who redeems me of my multiple sins through His one time, perfect sacrifice on the cross for me.  He has taught me a lot.  But I am humbled and reminded often of who I am, and that is Who I am in Christ alone!  See Ephesians chapter 1: loved, redeemed, chosen, blessed, adopted, accepted, forgiven.

One way that I often start my day praying is, "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.  I choose life and blessing today because You have redeemed me from the curse of the law through Your body on the tree.  Please give me wisdom and discernment today that I would bear fruit that glorifies You, all because the Father has adopted me into His family through the blood of His perfect Son Jesus. Lord I lay this over all those I know and don't know.  Thy will be done."  I write this to show my need is daily.  (Summarizing of Deuteronomy 30:19-20 and Colossians chapter 1) 

My hope is that the hope He gives me will be an encouragement to you as we journey together.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  That is what we need to tell the world, there is hope! Hope in Jesus.  Hope in the dark places.  Even through your mistakes today, you can surrender to God and give someone else hope.   John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."
#Jesuschangeseverything

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by  Hillsong Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyYoe678yI&index=9&list=RDYy-HiKhX78o