I had thought about what I could write about all week on accountability and at 2:00 am this morning, I was awakened by the Holy Spirit with a memory from my youth.
I started racing triathlons when I was in 8th grade and it continued for most of my adult life in some form or fashion. In the cold dead of winter, even in the snow, I would force myself to go run in the cold weather as a way to train and prepare myself mentally for the sport.
There were many days where I did not want to run in the cold. I dreaded going out in the miserable conditions but I knew it would pay in the long run.
Lately, I have had to meet myself with the Lord on some strongholds that I have needed delivered on. Things that continue to be peeled back in layers.
I feel my main message for this week is that sometimes healing is painful and hard. We don’t want to appear weak or more than anything, we fear being abandoned and rejected by those we love the most. I know I have felt that in my life and the enemy likes to send that fiery dart toward my mind.
The message that I felt in my heart from the years of cold winter running is that I am in a season of brutal training. Where I feel this repetition and tired action where somedays I just don’t want to keep doing the same thing over and over again.
I felt reminded that no matter what the world or whatever anyone else is doing is to continue to press into Jesus. I need to continue to be love. To follow Christ. To encourage others. To help people see their value and to spread the good news. Even if they don’t understand that. To listen to the Lord and to not lean on my own understanding. To ask for what I need. To be vulnerable. To know I deserve love as well. To continue to be authentic, even if others don’t understand and to be a Godly man and lead, even if others don’t grasp it or are in confusion. To continue to be in constant prayer and in the Word. Those winter running sessions have led me to now.
Let people know you love them in small ways daily. I am learning to not overdo it or out of compulsion but from the heart. Love fiercely like Jesus loves us.