I went running this morning. I’m trying to run two miles in the morning and two at night. But I am having to retrain my body to do this.
Six weeks or so ago I came down with shingles. It affected the left side of my body. And now that I am feeling better, my left leg is still trying to remember how to get in the rhythm of running. There have been many days where I feel that I have to force my leg to do what it’s meant to do naturally. It’s been a slow process, but the last two days I have actually felt more human than robotic when I run. It is becoming less laborious and more relaxing and energizing. Instead of feeling like I’m plodding, I am feeling lighter and more free.
I was reminded again yesterday of a verse that applies that philosophy to my heart. This is Jesus talking….
Matthew 11:28-30 – “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
How much of life do we spending plodding along, heavy from all that our days put on us? How many times are we weighed down by the burden of old guilt and regret? How often are we dragged down by difficult circumstances and worries?
It’s so easy to forget the “unforced rhythms of grace”. To get distracted by the beat of daily life – the pounding in our ears of duty and obligation. Of “shoulda, coulda, woulda”. The relentless pulse in our veins of “too much to do” and “too little time” and falling short of expectations – others’ and our own. All of it drowning out the rhythm and sweet melody of grace.
We need to retrain our hearts, like I have had to retrain my bum leg. To remember that grace – that unmerited, undeserved favor – has an unforced rhythm because it springs from the deep, deep love of Jesus. A love so strong that it offers the unreasonable, incomprehensible, irresistable grace that we so desperately long for and need. Pure, unconditional, never ending love accompanied by absolute forgiveness and acceptance. And it’s ours. A rhythm that is easy to dance to when our hearts learn the tune…
Ephesians 3:16-19 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
