Running

The other day when I was driving home from work, I was stopped at a red light and then I witnessed three or four people running with all their might to catch their next bus on the other side of the street... This was kind of funny to watch to be honest. However, I thought to myself, "isn't it amazing to see how people will so desperately run to catch a bus, but there is a lack of urgency when an opportunity comes to spend time in God's presence..." 

We don't want to miss God, do we?

This is more than just attending a church service or special event, while those corporate gatherings are very important to be a part of, the desire and urgency to spend quality time in God's presence should be a personal pursuit. The meaning of the word "pursue" according to the 1997 Merriam-Webster Dictionary I have at home states:

 "to follow in order to take overtake or overcome; 

[chase] to seek to accomplish (a goal); 

to proceed along (a course); 

to engage in (a career)"

The pursuit of being in God's presence should be a chasing after God, constantly seeking Him, intensely searching to know Him more. And this requires making a conscious effort on our part to spend time in God's presence. 

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I have a few friends who enjoy the physical act of running. Their goals vary from staying physically fit, to spending time with God, to attempting to up increase their steps on their Fitbit. I think running is alright in small doses, but these kids, they run... for a hours at a time. The point is, their running requires direction and a final destination point. Because on a normal day, a runner wouldn't simply run in circles and have no end destination in mind.

Sometimes in life we may run to our favourite television show, our favourite food or drink, a group of friends... we may get sucked into a virtual game, drown out our thoughts with music... or whatever the case, we're running towards something. So the question is, 

What are we running towards?

In God's Word we're instructed to run the race towards Jesus with perseverance, and we're to run with the purpose to win:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witlessness, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus... 

Hebrews 12:1-2a NIV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 

1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

So let's choose to take time to run towards God's presence, through; prayer, quieting ourselves to listen, reading the Word, and worship (there are many more ways, such as dance, creating art, keeping a journal and, yes, even running). 

Because after being in His presence, we can't leave the same.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 NKJV