Race of Faith

Been thinking about what to write tonight...

Want to share that I am currently "in-training" for a half-marathon! Yes, this is a rather hefty undertaking, yet I am excited about it. I am on week 6 of my training, and it is a 10-week schedule. I got the schedule off of Runner's World online, and it has really been good so far.

As I have been running, I have been thinking about Paul's words in 2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

These words are so powerful to me. It is almost like this marathon is symbolic to me of the race we are running in this life with the Lord. We must fight and contend for this faith. We must not waiver or be tossed to and fro by our feelings. It's like some days, I just flat don't feel like running! But, I must purpose in my heart and mind that I WILL run and I WILL train regardless of how I FEEL.

It's the same with our faith. Faith is NOT based on our feelings. The Holy Spirit also reminded me of this while I was running a few days ago as well. As you can tell, the concept of "faith" has been on my mind a great deal lately, and this idea of faith not being based on our feelings was such a refreshing revelation to me.

Being a part of the "charismatic, penecostal" type of movement within the church, sometimes one can be so caught up in trying to experience the presence of God by pure feelings and emotions, that it can be quite disappointing or disillusioning when one doesn't continually experience these moments of chills and goosebumps.

Don't get me wrong. I totally believe in experiencing the manifest presence of God's Spirit and have definitely experienced this (and absolutely LOVE my church BTW), but what I AM saying is that we cannot base our faith on these experiences. Faith is based on the truth of God's Word. It is an immovable force in our lives, no matter if we only have a mustard seed's worth. It will move a mountain!

So, let us continue in faith, filling our minds and hearts with the Word of God and building our most holy faith. Let us fight for our faith. May we never give up or give in or let our emotions dictate our faith level from day to day.

Here's to running that awesome faith race! Cheers!