Getting In Stride With God

Since last September, I’ve been getting together with several others each Saturday at local parks. Most of us walk, but some have strapped on their Rollerblades, while others take the opportunity to bring their dogs. I enjoy getting outside, breathing that fresh crisp morning air, and getting my blood flowing. I also enjoy getting to know the others that gather each week.

Have you ever gone for a walk with someone and immediately you’re out paced? You struggle to keep up, your body begins to scream in pain and you gasp for more oxygen? I’ve been there...in fact, I’m still there, at least with my group on Saturdays. Since the first time we met, I’ve been the one to ‘bring up the rear.’ I’m not in great shape and know it. I’ve struggled to keep pace with the others. But with a sweaty brow and painfully weak leg muscles, I do my best. As I said, I really enjoy getting to know the others that gather with me to walk, but there are moments when my need for oxygen, far outweighs my desire to converse. Thankfully I’m with a group of people that give me much grace and understanding. They’ve kept my pace at times, instead of the pace (that’s much faster) they would likely prefer.

But what about with your ‘walk’ with God? Do you find yourself struggling to keep pace with God? It’s difficult to get into stride with God. We tend to find He’s out paced us before we can take three steps. He has a different ways of doing things, and a different way of seeing things. It’s only through spending time with Him, during our prayer and devotional time, that we can be ‘trained and disciplined’ into His stride. It’s through our ever-deepening relationship with Christ that we begin to take on His characteristics. And it’s then that we fine ourselves getting that ‘second wind.’ It’s then that, the we begin to manifest His characteristics in our lives. Our character, values, desires, hope, dreams, will and agendas are lost sight of and are tailored into His character, values, desires, hope, dreams, will and agendas. It’s within this personal union with God that we can achieve the ability to keep in stride with Him so that the power of God alone can be manifested in our everyday lives.

Are your ‘spiritual legs’ screaming in pain because you’re trying to keep up with God but can’t seem to? Instead of thinking of the time you spend praying or do your devotions as a ‘have to’ thing; think of it as a time to exercise your ‘spiritual legs.’ Start out with 5 or 15 minute ‘walks’ with God. As you are faithful with that, increase it to 20-40 minute ‘walks’. Eventually, you’ll find that you’re not even keeping track of the time your ’walking’ with Him - you’re getting into stride with God. That’s when you’ve hit that ‘second wind’ and He’s the one being manifested through you.