Running

Kids love to run for fun. They run inside the house. If they could they would also run up and down the hall ways at school. They run at recess. They run just for the fun of it after school. Athletes run for conditioning. They run to train for their sport. They run to get faster. They run for competition. Some run recreationally to stay in shape. They run to relieve stress, to clear their mind, and to compete in 5-K's and marathons.

None of those things are the point of this blog. I am more interested in a different kind of running. Call it emotional and spiritual running. Many people are running from something. Kids are running from a dysfunctional home. They are running from words that define them as worthless, stupid, and unwanted. Some spouses are running from a loveless marriage. Battered wives are running from another backhand across the cheeks or a punch to the stomach. There are children running from physical and sexual abuse. Employees are running from a dead end job. Others are running from reality trying to find some kind of escape in destructive behavior. Such behaviors only bring more sorrow and trouble.

There are people who live their whole lives running from their past. They can't outrun sinful choices. They cannot outrun the pain they have caused in others. They get up everyday and keep running from past mistakes, from past emotional wounds that continue to scar their psyche, and from past painful experiences. No matter how hard they run all their lives they never outrun their past.

Are you running from something? Jesus alone can set people free from their past. He forgives past sin. [Ps 103:12] He heals wounded broken hearts. [Ps 34:18] Forget what lies behind and run toward what lies ahead.

Now contrast those people running FROM something to those who are running TOWARD something. In the King James Version of [Ps 63:8] translates that verse as "My soul follows hard after God." Those who spend their days running toward God and running toward the call He puts on their lives are more well adjusted, more at peace, and able to live life with purpose.

As  you awake today are you expending your energy trying to run from something? If you have been redeemed in Jesus Christ you don't have to run from your past. You don't have to run from your present. Put your eyes on Jesus and just run toward Him. Are you waking up today and choosing to run hard toward God? How you choose to run can make a huge difference. Where you run is important too. Choosing to run from something or toward something is important. Run toward God. Run toward Jesus all your life.

Run to Him when you are weary and heavy laden and He will you rest. Run toward Him in repentance when you sin and feel condemned. Run toward Him when you lose hope. Run toward Him when you have been wounded. Run to Him when the storms brew and rage and you need refuge.