"I need to change the way I look at all I look at." - Soak It Up, Warren Barfield
One day last week I actually woke up early enough to go and walk/run on the Vulcan Trail up behind the apt. -- very proud of myself for not sleeping the day away. Anyway. If I go by myself I usually take my pPod (iPod) and listen to music while exercising. This day I couldn't find my ear phones so I was stuck without music. A sad time indeed for me because I absolutely l-o-v-e me some music... So, I head up to the trail and take off on my routine of jogging a quarter mile, walking a quarter mile, and so on. So, I finish walking my third quarter of a mile and am about to start jogging again when a voice tells me to keep walking. So, I did. I kept walking. It was so amazing! I spent the following mile talking to God and soaking up all His beautiful creation that was around me! I noticed things on the trail that I'd not noticed before and I've been going up to this trail for a little over two months now. It was, literally, a breath of freash air to me. After walking a while I was coming back up the hill and the same voice I had heard earlier told me to run again. So, I did. I began to jog. Not only did I jog, I was flying. By flying I do not mean I was running really fast, I mean flying. I was soaring. Okay, maybe not up off the ground, but the rush I had was amazing. The moment I felt myself fly I almost began to cry it was so amazing (man, I really am at a lack of a better word...oh well.)!
The entire time I was walking two songs kept running through my head, mainly one or two lines of each song. 1) "And soak it up every little bit I can..." (Soak It Up, Warren Barfield) and 2) "So everything is beautiful even when the tears are falling, I don't need a miracle to believe. Even in the crashing down, I can hear redemption calling, and everything is beautiful to me." (Everything Is Beautiful, Starfield)
Also, whilst all this is going on inside, and outside, of me..., every time I would look down at the ground where I was walking a voice would say, "Don't look down. Look up. Eyes forward."
When I finished and went back home, I sat on the front porch of the apt. and had a little quiet time with God. I've been reading two Psalms and a Proverb lately, and the ones for that day -- and how cool is this -- were Ps. 23, 24 and Pr. 14. Psalm 23! After all that on the trail Psalm 23 was the first thing I read!
"Don't look down. Look up. Eyes forward." ... "The LORD is my shepherd..."
DUDE! Seriously.
God, help me to keep from looking down. If I am looking down then that means I am not looking at You. If I am not looking at You, then, I will fall. I have to look at You. Keep my gaze. I don't want to be a disappointment to You anymore.
The End.
4 comments:
Sounds like a great experience!
Usually once a year I'll go whitewater rafting or kayaking, and it always ends up being very spiritual. What happens is, I'll wear myself out paddling and steering and rafting the rough parts, and then once I reach the calm waters (in certain spots) I'm physically exhausted. So my body is completely beaten down (or as Paul would say, buffeted) and I'm in the middle of God's creation without my cell phone or any of that other stuff...and what happens is that I find myself being in prayer without any words being spoken or any effort being put forth. It's like once we get our flesh out of the way, the natural communication between God and me just simply occurs...
That was so encouraging, Ali! It is sweet the communication style He has with us. Being outside with the sun on my face helps me focus too.
I love it!
I especially LOVE what God is doing in your heart these days. It helps me press forward to hear your joy.
I LOVE YOU, ALI!
Great times. He loves to meet us wherever we will be met. He is creative and loves to cherish us by thrilling us. Way to be obedient and enjoy the abundant blessing that comes with obedience!
Would you contact me. I have something I want to talk to you about.
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