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Fliers, runners, walkers
'... They will soar ... They will run ... They will walk' Isaiah 40:31
Watchman Nee wrote a best-selling book entitled The Normal Christian Life. Why that title? Because, he says, you will only be able to recognise what season you're in, and adjust to it, when you know what's 'normal' in Christian living.
At one point Paul raises a man from the dead, yet at another he writes, 'We even gave up hope of living ...' (2 Corinthians 1:8 NCV). The Bible says, 'Elijah was a man just like us ...' (James 5:17 NIV). Yet one day he is calling down fire from heaven, and the next he is suicidal and in the depth of depression.
Now, you can't use this fact as an excuse for spiritual laziness, but we must be discerning. Faith in Jesus doesn't exempt us from life's ups and downs, it just enables us to go through them victoriously.
So: 1) If you're a flier: If you're being blessed by God and experiencing success beyond your natural abilities, enjoy it. But always remember, your ability to fly comes from God-not you. Forget that, and down you'll go!
2) If you're a runner: Thank God you're still in the race. Don't compare yourself with high fliers or you'll get discouraged, and don't compare yourself with walkers or you'll become proud. Just keep running and your time will come.
3) If you're a walker: Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Some days pain, discouragement and fatigue make it impossible to fly high or run; all you can do is walk without fainting, and even that's hard. No problem, give yourself permission to be where you are. Walking counts with God. When it's the best you can do, it's enough
written by Bob Gass
'... They will soar ... They will run ... They will walk' Isaiah 40:31
Watchman Nee wrote a best-selling book entitled The Normal Christian Life. Why that title? Because, he says, you will only be able to recognise what season you're in, and adjust to it, when you know what's 'normal' in Christian living.
At one point Paul raises a man from the dead, yet at another he writes, 'We even gave up hope of living ...' (2 Corinthians 1:8 NCV). The Bible says, 'Elijah was a man just like us ...' (James 5:17 NIV). Yet one day he is calling down fire from heaven, and the next he is suicidal and in the depth of depression.
Now, you can't use this fact as an excuse for spiritual laziness, but we must be discerning. Faith in Jesus doesn't exempt us from life's ups and downs, it just enables us to go through them victoriously.
So: 1) If you're a flier: If you're being blessed by God and experiencing success beyond your natural abilities, enjoy it. But always remember, your ability to fly comes from God-not you. Forget that, and down you'll go!
2) If you're a runner: Thank God you're still in the race. Don't compare yourself with high fliers or you'll get discouraged, and don't compare yourself with walkers or you'll become proud. Just keep running and your time will come.
3) If you're a walker: Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Some days pain, discouragement and fatigue make it impossible to fly high or run; all you can do is walk without fainting, and even that's hard. No problem, give yourself permission to be where you are. Walking counts with God. When it's the best you can do, it's enough
written by Bob Gass
