Running this race!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (New Living Translation) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified It is not easy running the race of life, and it's certainly not easier running the race of a saved and anointed life. Life in general (away from the joys and successes that it brings) is hectic, challenging, expensive, tiring, tempting, tricky, full of surprises, demanding...and more! It takes a lot of faith and determination to stay in a sane and healthy place. This scripture above talks about the race of life that we are all a part of and the decisions we have taken, or are taking, or should be taking in following-through with our course. Hopefully, as we are reading this, we know what path of life we are going in. And if you are yet to discover your path of life, I hope that you have at least identified what you are looking for. NO matter what choice we make, make sure that in the end, it'll bring us eternal joy and satisfaction! Athletes run with the end in mind; however, to get to that finished line, they have to take one step in front of the other...each and every time, until the race is over. NO BREAKS, NOTHING! Moving at a steady pace is progressive. But if we run aimlessly, without focus or motivation, with no particular goal in mind, and no purpose at hand....then, we'll find that we'll waver, and lose perspective of what we are doing. It's at times like this that we tend to make adjustments to suit our present conditions, thereby gradually moving away from our first intention, and our primary decision(s). The word of God tells us to discipline our bodies to do the right thing, so when we talk to others, we are not found guilty of hypocrisy! In essence, PRACTICE what we preach! Don't let the desires of your flesh win you over and overcome you. Trust me, it'll take you off track, you'll slowly lose momentum and slowly welcome habits and cravings that you will not be able to easily shake off!!! As Righteous Women, it's important that we take life and our primary decisions seriously. DO NOT compromise what you believe in, DO NOT run aimlessly, DO NOT be one who is just running to kill time!!! Let your life and work speak meaning and define integrity! Don't be caught disqualified!!! 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Amplified Bible) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

The Heart of a Woman 4

Whether we tend to dominate and control, or withdraw in our desolation and hide, still...the ache remains. The deep longings we face in our hearts as women, just do not go away. And so, as a result, we indulge! INDULGING WOMAN She buys herself something nice when she is not feeling appreciated. She allows herself yet another scoop of ice cream or a super-sized something when she is lonely. She moves into a fantasy world to find some water for her thirsty heart. She is a fan of romance novels, soap operas, talk shows, gossip, myriads of women magazines that all feed into an inner life of relational dreaming that only substitutes - for a while- for the real thing. But none of these things satisfy, so she finds herself trying to fill the remaining emptiness with her own little secretive indulgences. These are what we call "bad habits" a.k.a "little affairs of the heart". They are what she gives her heart away to instead of giving them to the heart of God. She daydreams her way through traffic. She imagines meaningful conversations or difficult ones where she speaks brilliantly. She spends her imagination on cheap novels, picturing herself as the beautiful heroine - winsome, pursued, and beautiful. She is endlessly creative in her indulgent pursuits, and adulteries of the heart. She certainly does not limit herself to just one. Now, take a moment and consider what your indulgences are. Where do you go instead of to God when the ache of your heart begins to make itself known? Do you spend too much money, gambling, bingeing, purging, shopping, drinking, working, cleaning, exercising, fantasising, too many movies, sitcoms, talk shows, even our own negative emotions can become indulgences. When we camp our hearts in self-doubt, condemning thoughts, or even shame because these emotions have become familiar and comfortable, we end up faithlessly indulging...rather than allowing our deep ache to draw us towards God. Unfortunately, our indulgences make us feel better...for a while. They seem to "work", but really only increase our need to indulge again. This, ladies, is the nightmare of addiction! Addiction is not only about drugs. We give our hearts to all sorts of other "lovers" that demand our attention, demand that we indulge again. We taste something that we think is good, our longings cease to ache, for a minute, but later we find ourselves empty once more, needing to be filled again and again, and again. It is a lonely prison of our own making, each chain forged in the fire of our indulgent choice. Do not be ashamed that your heart aches; and that you need, thirst and hunger for much more. All of our hearts are at some level of unsatisfaction and longing. It is the insatiable need for more that drives us to our God. Realize that all of your controlling, hiding and indulging, actually serves to seperate us from our hearts. We lose touch with those longings that make us women; and the substitutes never, ever resolve the deeper issues or our souls. Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 (New Living Translation)

The Heart of a Woman 3

If on one side of the spectrum, we have the hard, rigid, controlling and dominant woman...then on the other side, you'll find the desolate, needy and far too vulnerable woman. DESOLATE WOMAN She is naive, lost, and bereft of any sense of self. She falls under the abuse of a bad man and does not have the will to get herself out. She is quick to give herself over to an untrustworthy because she is desperate to be loved, and typically ends up heartbroken. She buys/reads books like "Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them", and "Women Who Love Too Much" and " Co-dependent No More"! She is consumed by the hunger to be in a relationship. Sadly, she also tends to hide her true self. She is certain that if others really knew her, they would not like her, and she definitely cannot risk losing that relationship. She hides behind the counter when an attractive man walks in to a cafe, a shop etc...and might also hide behind big reading glasses. She wears baggy clothes, and keeps her hair frumpy - because certainly, these will not draw attention to her...since she believes she is not worth paying attention to. She can also be a busy woman that hides behind "there is so much work to do". She is kind, funny, intelligent and bright...yet timid and afraid. She spends some, not most, but some of her time camped out in front of the TV. She declines invitations to go out. She is wounded and heartbroken in some ways, and finds comfort in sitcoms and snacks. She is too insecure to enter into the real world, and chooses to hide from it instead; but ventures out occasionally to attend classes and restock her food supply. She hardly speaks up at a Bible study, PTA council or any kind of meetings. She stays busy at family gatherings and parties she can't avoid. She'd rather go to a movie than out to dinner with a friend. She does not initiate sex with her husband..ever! She dismisses every compliment and hides behind her make-up and humor. She does not make any major decisions. She hides with angry silences and punishing withdrawals. She hides her true self and offers only what she believes is wanted, what she believes is safe. She acts in self-protective ways and refuses to offer what she truly sees. She does not risk rejection or looking like a fool. She has been wounded and wounded deeply...and chooses to hide to remain safe, thereby hurting less. This is not an extremity that'll do us any good. It does not please God. When we hide, something precious is lost - something the world needs very much. We also lack fellowship with others, and lack sharing any pain, dissapointments and hurts that we personally face. We end up taking matters into our own hands and don't return to God with our broken and desperate hearts. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17)