lessons from God's Word reinforced on a New Year's Day morning run

January 1, 2015, I awoke with only one thing on my mind: a New Year's Day run!

All bundled up and prepared to run in the cold January weather, I started walking to the nearby park. I just felt I needed to start my year this way - running with God.

The crisp air filled my lungs, invigorating my soul.  Joy washed over me as I began to count my blessings and thank Jesus for each one: I'm alive.  I'm healthy.  I have a loving husband and beautiful girls.  God is on His throne and in complete control of everything.  As my mind dwelt on these things, the peace of God rushed through me.

Lesson #1 - Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

I turned on Phillips, Craig & Dean's new album Above It All via my phone and placed my earbuds in my ears.  The song "What Hope Feels Like" began playing, and my spirit soared when I heard these words:

It's like I woke up for the first time breathing

It's like I looked up for the first time seeing

I'm learning to live again

I'm learning to love again

I'm learning to dream again

It's like I've been born again

It's nothing but open road

Now that I'm not alone

I'm saying hello to life

This is what hope feels like

I couldn't help but smile big and shoot the Lord an "Amen!" upon drinking in those lyrics.  "You make all things new, Jesus!"  It was New Year's Day - a time for new beginnings - and I was ready to learn to live, to love, and to dream anew in 2015.  And then I heard God say, "Let me do this in you, Jamie."

And as I looked at the open road before me and began my run, I whispered, "Yes, Lord.  Yes. Yes."

Lesson #2 - Lamentations 3:22-24 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'"

Continuing my run, the words from my new favorite song "What Hope Feels Like" climaxed and concluded:

Now I'm running

Every chain is fallen

Into your freedom I can hear you calling

I'm learning to live again

I'm learning to love again

I'm not going back again

Because I've been born again

You have rolled that stone aside

Because you live so will I

What was dead is now alive

And this is what hope feels like

And as I ran on, I prayed that God would start a new work in me.  For me. For mine. For you.

For Him!

Happy New Year in Jesus!

Today's forget-me-not: lessons on a New Year's Day morning run

Yes!

hope