Worth the Wait

Good morning! I went on a run this morning around the park nearby and as usual came back a little hungrier, a little darker, and a little more convicted. Something about running always has a way of letting loose for me. The ground and everything else seems to blur around me and I always find myself snapping my fingers to the steady thump of my footsteps and then I start thinking about what I want to eat right when I get home... =) This is usually the case but I guess this morning's run was a little different. Different in the sense that I saw probably the biggest squirrel of all time perched under my car (I think it was a raccoon hybrid or some kind of freak warm-blooded vertebrate from Mars) and also different in a way where I was extremely convicted, humbled, yet healed, encouraged, and challenged all within the matter of a 45 minute run.

I think I'm in a mood to write so I'll be aware and keep it short. Hehe. :) Lately there's been a sense of yearning in my soul, almost like an intense feeling of loss or lack and a longing for something. I guess it's always persistent, usually wistful but nonetheless it's there. I think I'm mainly referring to a longing for change or for things to hurry and speed up the way I envision it to be. I find myself compensating the unpredictable joys and blessings of the here-and-now with my idealistic and imaginary fantasies of the future. And naturally I become discontent, dissatisfied, and almost disillusioned with the time, place and circumstance God has put me in right here and right now. I guess if I state the issue in one sentence it's whether I am willing and whether I desire to wait upon the Lord, trust in Him and His promises and submit to and obey His will. If keeping Christ in the center and laying at the foot of the cross giving praise to Him who is worthy is how we retain our ultimate joy in Him then why is it so hard to do so?

I guess this was the issue tugging at my heart and I was convicted and reminded today of some awesome truths. We're always spiritually battling within the confines of our heart. It's like two natures- one lower, one higher: the flesh and Spirit. The flesh has no claim on us yet sometimes we deny this, listen to the promptings and desires of the flesh, capitulate and fall. But as Christians, we should mortify the flesh! And we can do so only by submitting to the supremacy of Christ- to His authority in every area of our being. It's an issue I actively must fight. Waiting on God and trusting him Him requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within myself the unanswered questions YET lifting my heart to God, crying out to Him and letting Him lead me in the way He sees I'll be most sanctified.

I have so much more to write but I'll close with a quote. S.D. Gordon describes 'waiting' well:
"Steadfastness, that is holding on; patience, that is holding back; Expectancy, that is holding the face up; Obedience, that is holding one's self in readiness to go or do; Listening, that is holding quiet and still so as to hear."
Definitely encouraged to live daily acknowledging that His faithfulness, mercies, and love are new every morning. I can wait upon and trust in this faithful Creator. How amazing!!!
Dang. This morning's run was pretty awesome! Must have been that freak vertebrate raccoon hybrid that's probably still chillin' under my car... Jk.

Yesterday spent lovely time catching up with my girls!!! SEEMs like forever ;)

SEEM. <3 Thankful for you girls!

Coca Cola: Keep it Real Folks. (8