It’s kind of a joke around the house now, but when watching something action packed and seeing a character running (or stumbling to outrun danger), I mention to my people, “This is why I run.”
It’s doubtful I’ll ever be in an action-packed situation outrunning spies, predators or space aliens. My pace is no record breaker; but I know that what I lack in speed I can make up for in endurance. Endurance is my 2022 word for the year, and I rather expected it would have to do a lot with running. But with any story, the plot twist gets you to pay attention in a fresh way, and God is using this word endurance to strengthen my spiritual muscle.
13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:13-20, NIV
I woke up yesterday still motivated by a fresh intention to finish the year strong (goal-wise). I had my training plans and followed them … later over a recovery shake, a random post on candle making took me down a rabbit hole to beeswax and process … I never saw the one-two punch coming. Oh grief, time had softened my memory of you. I forgot how you stun-and-drop. One, two.
Lord, your word is always beneficial. As I turn toward the Scriptures today, I say to myself, “This is why I (read, study, meditate on your word).” I draw closer to you in this season, Lord. Thank you for teaching me how to endure.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 