"Lord Ill be Forever Chasing After You"
Since High school, running has become part of my life. It created challenges,and joys-It tested and surprised me. It taught me about my weaknesses and strengths. It showed me how to set a goal and to meet it, and what to do when you fall short. Running gave me a family, memories, and kept me healthy, sane and fit.
Since College, me and running have gone through a love hate relationship. Some phases where I have been dedicated to regular running(usually while training for a race) other times, there are long gaps, even months between runs. I think at first, after college I needed a break, but recently I have been aching for the time and motivation to get to regular running again.
In my life, I have noticed a connection between healthy running habits and a healthy prayer life. When I am disciplined in one area, I tend to be in others. Also, running often becomes my prayer...Lord motivate me today...God help me get through this run...or just simply quiet de-stress time with God.
Since the farm, I have struggled to have a constant strong faith/prayer life. It sounds lame, but I have been too busy to give God my time. Crazy I know!
At a service on campus a while back I heard this song(posted below an excerpt) with the lines:
I'll be chasing after You
And I'll be forever chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You
Oh.. Lord
Verse 2:
I press toward the mark
For the prize and I wont faint
I wont faint
There's one thing that I desire
And that’s what I’m going for
I can’t continue life
Day by day growing dry
I need to be with you Jesus
I'll seek where You are"
To me this made sense. It reminded me of running.During a race where I was often fighting in the back one of two things would happen. I would zero in, focus and use all I had to catch or beat those ahead of me. I would work to close the gap until my body gave out...determined never to give up. I kept working even if the gap never got smaller. OR, I would try but let my head get in the way...and sometimes subconsciously ...almost give up. It was too hard, it took too much work. To have the race I wanted I usually had to get past my own mind, my own head, and run with my heart. If I let me heart lead I worked no matter what. BUT if I let me head lead, it got in the way.
This reminded me of my prayer life, and where I still need to grow. I think God is asking me to pray more from my heart and less with my head. To seek a relationship with him with all my heart, without analyzing, thinking too much, or letting questions and fears get in the way. I know that if I can do this, I will find this closer relationship God is calling me to.
So, pray that I exercise my heart more. In my running life but mostly in my faith life.
Help me to love and seek you Lord, I want to be forever chasing after you...
Help me to seek you Lord, no matter how far away I feel, no matter how far between us the gap feels, and no matter how much change(scary!) you are asking me to go through. Don't let me be comfortable Lord, but rather help me to be comfortable being uncomfortable...As I forever chase after you Lord.
Lyrics to Chasing After You (The Morning Song) :
Verse 1:
Each and every day
I will seek Your face
My soul is crying out for more
I want more of You
I won't be satisfied
Nor content where I am
So I will apprehend
Til I'm captured by what I'm after
Chorus:
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
And I'll forever be chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You
And I'll be forever chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You
Oh.. Lord
Verse 2:
I press toward the mark
For the prize and I wont faint
I wont faint
There's one thing that I desire
And that’s what I’m going for
I can’t continue life
Day by day growing dry
I need to be with you Jesus
I'll seek where You are
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
(Repeat)
And I'll forever be chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You
And I'll be forever chasing after You
I'll be chasing after You
(Repeat 2)
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
And I will go from faith to faith
From glory to glory
And I’ll forever be chasing after You
