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Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Second Wind

The second wind... The beautiful sought after second wind...

As I was running this morning, I experienced the second wind. My first wind was totally spent in the first half mile, but I had to keep going. Then it happened...It was great, and because of it I was able to keep running a little faster, a little easier. I finally felt like I wasn't gonna die! I began to think as I ran about the beauty of the second wind and how we desire that second wind in every aspect of our lives. 

While we run this race we call life, there are many times we long for that second wind. It can be an emotional, spiritual or physical second wind we desire and receive from our great God.

The thing about the second wind is that in order to get it we gotta keep running. We can't give up. Eventhough the run is hard and we are desperately gasping for air, we just gotta keep up the pace, keep putting one foot in front of the other. We gotta just keep going as my running path reminds me of so often. Someone took a can of spray paint and wrote that on part of the path. While I don't necessarily condone spray paint in public paths and places it does serve as a great reminder along my way! Just keep going! If we just keep going we will get the second wind. Our bodies have been created for it. 

We run along then comes the hills...the hills of life! The places where we can't see what's on the other side and all we know is it's all we can do to keep up the pace. The second wind is given so we can make it up the hills. When our strength is all but spent on the last step and there are many more ahead before we reach the top of the hill. Some people like to walk up the hills and that's okay. They still reach the top. But, not me. I like, well I don't like, I just choose to run the hills. I choose to run because if I run the hills they'll be over sooner. Just my choice, but whatever you prefer, just keep treking the hill. Soon we will reach the top and on the way up we will gain strength and endurance we didn't think possible. When I'm running the hills whether it be in a physical sense or spiritual sense, I like to remind myself of the previous hills I've climbed with my God as my strength and companion. He is the best running mate I've found yet. I tell myself, there's no hill me and him can't run up and sometimes I can even say in confidence, we got this, this is nothing compared to the hills before.    Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the kills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 40:3-5

And then there are the hills that seem so much higher and longer. Those are the ones where I have to remind myself, there is someone stronger, there is someone greater who will take me up the hill. In my weakness, Jesus becomes my strength. He becomes my second wind. He gives me the ability to just breathe deep and continue putting one foot in front of the other.    He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:29-31

As we go up unfamiliar hills and unknown paths, we choose to trust that Jesus is our running mate. Not only is he our running mate, but he has already gone ahead on the path and cleared the way. He's good like that.     I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will make the darkness bright before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will do these things; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

So, as we keep running this race we call life, just keep going, keep expecting and keep receiving the strength of the second wind. Breathe deep, keep up the pace, and remember we're not running alone.   Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

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