Does your bag have a hole in it? That can be a good thing! Get free of baggage!!
Miles in the bag? Yeah, that's good! But it does not define me! Measurements! They can be so conflicting! It is good to have goals, to move forward, to make progress, but to what end? If you are like me, the bag that holds your miles has a big hole in it! There's never enough! By the grace of God, I've been on a life long journey learning that running with a hole in your bag can be a good thing!
Now I picture a wind sock instead of a bag. Let those miles fall out the bottom! Try that one on! A banner trailing me that is empty. My hope is that the empty banner I carry is filled with the full wind of God! If you struggle with measurements you can find peace here today.
God actually discourages comparison by measurement when done for the wrong reasons. Paul had heard that people were talking about they way he did ministry and comparing him to others. He explains the importance of NOT DOING THIS in 2 Corinthians 10:12,
"Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding."
There is a simple prayer that I was taught. This sentence prayer says, "empty me and fill with Thee." When we get empty it's beautiful! That is when the full aroma of God has space to fill us!
How sweet is it that our God emptied Himself first?! Blows me away! Philippians 2:5-9,
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him..."
The traps of measurement sneak in. There are many categories (houses, cars, lawn mowers, boats, shoes, purses, energy, stamina, musical ability etc.), but I'll stick with running. What I find funny is that people think I run a lot! It's funny because I am a minimalist with running! I just run the same route, and somehow over time it begins to look like I'm out there all the time. So please don't ever let your minds assume and compare about me or anyone!
God helped me find the balance of running to fight anxiety, and fibromyalgia. It's a tool God has given me, not a trophy. I enjoy watching running documentaries with Steve, but even in that we have to be armed with truth. Why? Because very quickly you see people that want to run 40 by age forty, or 50 by 50 or believe it or not 100 miles within 24 hours at any age! It's cool to watch but hey, I'm just thinking I'll be happy with 6 by 60! And I say that as a joke, because who knows what tomorrow holds, right?!
I'm also saying do what God has gifted you to do! If it's 100 miles for His glory - do it! It's not wrong to dream big, live big, run big! It's all about where the strength comes from, and the grace that we often miss seeing when we hit that goal! Colossians 3:17 says,
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Being armed with the truth is the antidote, the contentment pill that rids comparison. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says,
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,.."
If I were to take measurement seriously, like I used too, I would never be satisfied. Someone always runs faster, or runs more miles! When I'm out running, and I see someone walking slowly for health, I rejoice in seeing them move! God has created us in His Image, not our own! So if you took two steps with a walker today, God is rejoicing that you were able to move! Think of those who fight to come back from illness or injury who can only blink to communicate! We rejoice when we see that blink!
God told us His name was YAHWEH! It's a name that signifies his covenant of love, and His relational nature. Isaiah 42:5-9 God says no one compares to HIM, and yet it is He who lovingly takes us by the hand!
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
God is making all things new - in His time. Another wonderful name for God is YAHWEH Nissi - the LORD our Banner! So let go of all the striving in vain, commit to resting in God's Image. And if you can't move forward today, fall forward into His grace. What a banner! What a comfort!
So I encourage all of us to let go of comparing or judging ourselves or anyone else! I was encouraged to "fall forward" this year. Yeah, even now, there are things that get me down, and all I can do is fall forward. Sometimes it truly is all you can do. But fall into God's arms. He promises to be there, to be our all in all.
Falling. Forward. With. You.
love,
Julie
Empy Me Out, Liz Vice
My All in All, Phil Wickham
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