I noticed that my only focus physically was my breathing. It became what was right in the forefront of my mind. It was in rhythm with my pace, and the music I was listening to. I became so aware of my breathing, that I couldn't think of anything else. It became prominent, to everything else that was going on with my body. My goal was to finish, and finish well. To maintain a pace that would keep me on target. But, what rhythm was playing musically impacted greatly my ability to keep pace. And every breath properly inhaled and exhaled, also greatly impacted my overall ability to continue the run.
Then, my thoughts were intercepted. I saw the run I was doing in metaphor and all that was physically manifesting and going on inside me and with me, became a spiritual moment.
My run became the race of life. The difficulty and level at which I was running became the seasons of warfare. The music became the things I let sing over me, spiritually... in my mind, through my mouth. What I choose to spend my time listening to, .... My breath became that which I choose to breath in spiritually speaking.
Then, as my breathing became consistent I realized it rested into a place of consistency.... it stayed the same, and my breathing rested into a pace and pattern that kept my lungs and ability to run, moving forward. If in any way I would change my breathing, it changed my capacity to stay on pace and in rhythm.
Breathing became a siginificant point of contact on how I was doing.
I have had my share, long term even- seasons of warfare. I have had my share of difficulty in navigating how I should run the race, in the midst of it. I have often times... found moments when I just wanted to give up breathing... as I did today while running. When the run was getting so hard that I knew the only thing that would keep me going was the goal.... my goal was to maintain the 7 min. mile I was aiming for over the course of 30min. regardless of the increase I chose in resistance today.
This all translated to my spirit like this...
When the race becomes so hard that we barely are able to find the breath to continue, let alone see it through to the finish... what we surround our self with, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and physically is vitally connected and imperative to the end result.
What I listen to - will determine my pace; my mind becomes filled with lies midst the run of life, my pace will be detrimentally affected... it will slow my rhythm, and slow to a place of literally wanting to give up. That is the goal of the lie.... to ultimately exchange a truth for the lie.... which is always to steel, kill and destroy- your run or your race of life.
What I breath in - will affect the oxygen that I have going into my spirit... it will affect how I speak, how I go about my day... it will rob me of finding joy vs. negativity in all forms. Jesus said, "my words are spirit and truth." What we take into our spirit, will affect our spirit in direct correlation to the spirit behind what we are taking in. HOW vital it is to be mindful of what I allow to hover and pour into my spirit, ... for what comes in, will come out! Out of the heart, the mouth speaks.... so its essential that I guard what the springs of my heart have going into them. (Proverbs 4:23)
What I look at - what I focus on and gaze upon as Bill Johnson says, "We always reflect the nature of the world we are most aware of. ----Bill Johnson (Hosting The Presence)" So... am I looking at all the difficulty, challenge and darkness that surrounds me, keeping my gaze in fear? OR am I looking from Heaven to Earth? From His Kingdom Come to Earth.... Looking into His Word, for Jesus is the Word made flesh to this world, for our healing and deliverance- AM I remembering that I am seated in "heavenly places" and letting this impact my 'sight'? My long distance vision? (Eph. 2:6) For this will affect my perspectives - living FROM Victory, or TO Victory?
When these things are made mindful in my life, then my breathing and going through, my ability to continue to run, enters a place of Rest. Rest. "For in quietness and trust (rest) is your strength." (Isaiah 30:15) When you are in a peace filled state of rest... your breathing settles into a place of rest. Like your 'resting heart rate."... Your spirit settles into a resting heart rate in the spiritual realm... where your spirit can rest in a state of peace, because your gaze, what is going into your spirit, what your focus is upon, begins to manifest physically and mentally and spiritually... causing you to go through till the end.
I made my goal today. It was difficult. It required everything for me, to finish. My eyes set as a flint to the north on truth, and persevering. My spirit coming into agreement with His Spirit... letting in the good... that I might find strength. Breathing in His words of truth, songs of worship and songs of strength.... letting my pace physically and spiritually rest into a place that was strong, and deeply rooted in truth!
Take a deep breath...
and may you run with patient endurance, the race set before you... and may you find rest, for your soul... on the road ahead...
