I'm Running for My Life
In the early 2000s, I learned a new song. At first, it didn't mean too much to me. It sounded like a cute song but that was all. Soon, it had new meaning for me. I'll never be the same again. The song is called "Running For My Life," by Lee Williams. After the hard road I traveled, I understood it perfectly. You see, when you go through something, no one has to tell you what it is like being in such a place. You know for yourself.
Depression or rather a spirit of depression had come upon me. I had been tormented, tested, and tried by this spirit. Its mask is that it comes on you slowly. You find yourself in a weak and painful place and you have no idea how you got there. Your mind struggles for normalcy and finds no rest.
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed..." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV).
As I sought for help from the Lord He told me to keep my mind on Him. When you feel like you are losing your mind, this is somewhat of a challenge. Sounds like too simplistic a solution anyway. But the Word of God says:
"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" ( NLT).
The words to Lee Williams’s song speak of someone asking what wrong with me and the answer includes an explanation that I’m a born-again Christian with strong faith and that I’m “running for my life” nevertheless.
That is just what I am doing; running for my life. Satan wants to destroy us. He wants to keep us discouraged and beaten down. But when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we are called to greatness. We have a job to do for God. We don't have time to be defeated.
In Oswald Chambers's book, My Utmost for His Highest, he shares how we need to be as broken bread and poured-out wine to please God. We are to be "separated to the gospel" which means being able to hear the call of God for our lives. Our lives are to be used to preach the Good News to those around us, just like Paul in .
"This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News" ( NLT).
For some of us, it is a literal call to become a preacher. Others may hear this Word of exhortation as a reminder to witness to those Christ puts in our paths every day. If God calls you to preach His Word, then we need to stay on the road that leads to becoming that man or woman of God He has called us to be. Oswald Chambers also said, " Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains- 'separated to the gospel.' Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you."
This part of the book encouraged me so much. For a long time, I've struggled to be accepted by the church and organizations that don't understand the calling of God on my life. I have felt rejected and discouraged. But I know that no matter how long it takes, I must press on. I can not give up or turn away from the calling of God for me.
I want to encourage each of you today. Whatever calling the Lord puts on your heart to do, don't give up during the struggle. Don't let the voices around you that speak defeat and rejection rule your life. The outcome is up to you. Everyone must go through a struggle before they get to where they are going. It is a time of preparation for what is ahead. I am determined to stay focused on Christ and the calling He has placed on my life. I'm running for my life with my mind on Jesus. Won't you run with me too?
"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven" ( NLT).
Copyright © 2007 Martha Noebel. Used with permission.
