2.13.2012

He Gives Strength to the Weary

I need to preface this post:  I am not writing about this to brag or say "oh look how holy I am".  That is not my intention.  I am writing about this to give God glory for helping me and giving me strength.


Last Wednesday, in our DOTS (Ladies Ministry) meeting, we were challenged with a Feet Fast.  Everyone who is willing was to choose how many miles to pledge over the next 5 weeks and to dedicate each mile to praying for our church.  My heart sunk.  Two things I am not so good at- cardio exercise and long prayers.  I'm just not good at either.  I have no stamina, I guess in either area.  When I am running, I am literally looking at the timer after less than a minute.  No joke.  And while I do pray daily and throughout the day, I am not one to spend a long time at one time praying.  I like how I heard one preacher put it- I'm a "get to the point" kind of pray-er.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm just not a big talker.  I don't have long conversations.  When Brock and I were younger, we would try to talk on the phone and neither of us are big talkers so you can imagine how those phone calls went.  Say hi.  Tell the high points of your day.  Say "I love you".  Uh......well.....ok bye!


So imagine this girl trying to pledge to do cardio and pray the entire time.  Ha!  I have been trying to work out the past three weeks, so I know it's not entirely impossible for me to do.  I wrote down my pledge and said a quick prayer that God would help me complete it and hold me accountable.


When I started working out 3 weeks ago, I found a plan online for Non-Runners like me to build stamina.  I have been on the "Week 1" level of this plan for...3 weeks. I am supposed to run a minute, walk 90 seconds, etc., 9 reps, 3 times per week, then you increase the run-time each week.  I would literally start running and after 30 seconds (every. rep.), look down thinking my minute was almost up only to find I had only made it half way.  Ugh.  I told my Dad, "I really don't think I can go to the next level.  I can't run longer than 1 minute." (How sad is that?).  


I started my Feet Fast on Sunday and braced myself for it.  I put on some Worship music on my iPod because I'm just one of those people that likes to have noise in the background all the time.  I started my run/walk and started praying every step of the way.  You know that verse that says when we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays through us?  It's true.  The Teacher brought scripture after scripture to my mind (Isa. 40:29-31, 2 Cor. 12:9, Phil 4:13) and I prayed my way through 2 miles!  He helped me recall specific prayer requests from our church and led me through prayers for every ministry.  It was the quickest, easiest 2 miles I have ever run in my life. It was not "easy" but the easiest I have ever experienced.  Maybe the most enjoyable is the right term.  I was amazed.  And tonight- I moved to the next level in the plan!  Thank you Lord!


I say all this, not to boast about what I did, but to prove- I could only do this through Christ.  I could not get through those miles at that pace, but I did, through Christ.  I could not pray that long, but I did, through Christ.  I thank Him for giving me the strength, energy, stamina, mindset, and words to get through this Feet Fast and I know He will help me complete it.  I know He will bless this fast and do mighty things through the sacrifices each woman is making.


"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 
2 Corinthians 12:9

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." 
Philippians 4:13