New Perspective

A couple of weeks ago I had a paradigm shift about running, and with this shift I no longer view running as something I need to achieve.  Running is not about my performance or ability.  Running is a means to connect with God's heart for whichever city I'm running through and pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in that city.  This is what I heard God say to me, "Running is a prophetic act of intercession."  People do prayer walks all the time.  Running requires more.  Running enables me to cover more ground in less time and literally requires me to pour myself out and lay my soul bare before the LORD.

As I was meditating on this revelation the LORD reminded me of this Scripture:

"I promise you what I promised Moses:

‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you'..."

(Joshua 1:3 NLT).

I recently watched the movie Chariots of Fire again.  It came out 30 years ago, and it's still as powerful as ever.  Eric Liddel was a man of integrity, principle and character.  Another recommendation is the book "The Flying Scotsman," by Sally Magnusson, a biography about Eric Liddel focusing on the years following the events chronicled in the move--his years as a missionary in China. 

It is said that Eric Liddel ran as fast as he could at the beginning of a race, and then he threw his head back in surrender to God for the finish.  The quote he is most famous for saying is something like, "When I run I feel God's pleasure."  However, it was the screenwriter for Chariots of Fire who wrote that line for the movie.  Nevertheless, it's something to focus on.

Studies have shown people can endure just about anything when they get the focus off of themselves and any discomfort they feel to focus on another.  When they do what they do for someone else's benefit they can extend themselves further. 

I am running for a cause greater than myself.  I'm running after God's heart.