MAKE IT FUN!

Written by Richard Pidgley (Birmingham UK)

Richard Pidgley is married to Lynne, has two adult sons and two super cute grandsons. Richard is an AoG minister who leads Millpool Hill Church in Birmingham U.K. Richard has an MA in missional leadership and loves to teach the Word of God. He also loves early morning trail running.

August 31, 2021

After a long weekend that consisted of clearing a ‘jungle’ from the land in front of our church building and a full day of pastoral duties on Sunday, I simply wasn’t feeling it for run this morning. 

WHEN YOU’RE NOT FEELING IT – TRICK YOUR BRAIN!

While discipline got me out of my bed and through the front door, a good piece of running advice for when you’re unmotivated is to trick your brain!
Yes, tell yourself that you’ll run for just ten minutes.
More often than not, your body gives in to this as it doesn’t sound too dreadful, and let’s face it – Once you’ve run for ten minutes, it’s likely that you keep running as your body warms up.

ALLOW YOURSELF TO HAVE FUN WHEN YOU RUN

Allow yourself to have fun when you run! For me, a ‘fun run’ involves a new route, some water, and a mid-run photo opportunity to share on social media.

So today I got to run near a river which meant I was able to hop over some crazy stepping stones crossing the water.
I eventually arrived at a ford for cars where I had to wade through to cross to the other side.
To top it off, I finished my run in a submerged shingle bank.
The water level eventually reached over my knees, and I could no longer run. I came out of the river soaked but laughing to myself.
How crazy this is! And it was only 6 am!

As a child of God, I can tell you on good authority that our Heavenly Father God likes watching us have fun!
You see, Christianity is not about keeping rules and regulations.
It is about maintaining a wonderful relationship with God and learning to do creative things with what he has given us.
He is the Master Creator, is He not?

FUN STUFF CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LESSONS IN FAITH

At the last tranche of my route, I had gone from splashing in ankle depth water, before progressing into knee depth water.
As my legs struggled against the friction underwater, my mind was brought to that special river that Ezekiel saw in a prophetic vision.
It was a river that flowed from the temple and travels East into the Dead Sea. (Ezekiel 47)
The river is symbolic of life from God and the blessings that flow from His throne.
We need to get into the water by faith and trust God as we go deeper so that He can take us to new things, places and opportunities in his power and for his glory!

DIVINE WATERS, DYNAMIC WATERS and DEEPENING WATERS

This river is divine.
The miraculous trickle begins at the dwelling place of God, and it will bless us (Eze 47:1-2).
The water is
dynamic; It breathes life into what was once barren and dead in the same way that God is the source of all spiritual and physical life (Eze 47:6-12).
Isn’t this parallel to the work of the Holy Spirit within us?
Last but not least, it is an ever
deepening river as the scripture tells us that the waters increases in depth, volume and power as we experience its dynamic power (Eze 47:3-5).
The ever-deepening waters speak of increased blessings as we allow the Holy Spirit of God more control of our lives.

Like the Jewish exiles in Ezekiel’s day, we also are living in dry and desperate times!
We allow our thirst to be quenched when we let God in.
When we pray and worship, we arrive at that place where we are immersed in God’s presence.
This is what it means to have a Spirit-filled life.

You may feel exiled, empty and exhausted, but be encouraged for the door to God’s presence is wide open through Jesus’ work on the cross and the mighty River of God is flowing freely!

REFLECTION: 

Yes, you are free to enjoy yourself with God. 

Is this the kind of relationship you have with God?

If not, maybe it’s time you learn more about Jesus.
Jesus loved His Father, and He certainly loved life!


Decide to have fun on your runs while engaging God.
Cherish His delight in you as you run free and full of joy.
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to speak to you even in those fun times.


Are you living a Spirit-filled life?
If not today is the day to see that changed – Surrender all that you are to God and invite the fullness of the Holy Spirit into your life.
Let God transform and direct your life! 

RUNNING GOAL: 

Find a new route, shake things up and have fun! 

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