Hello my fellow intercessor runners. I know it has been a little while since my last entry but I hope that you are all finding peace with your training and excitement in with your intercession. As for me, things have been a bit rough – my training has had me routed in some hard terrain. I am talking about the heart of my intersession.

Initially my prayers were focused on the community that I live in – not what I ‘see’ in the physical but what I ‘see’ [as it could be] when God is allowed into the situations. I also pray for those areas that I will participate 5k/10k /half marathons this season. I simply asked God to open the heavens and for the Holy Spirit to flow, lighting a flame of fire in those who may not know HIM and to stoke the flame in those individuals that do.

All was good as I trained indoors. In my mind’s eye I could see the area that I was encompassing with my prayers as I ran. Taking ground (so to speak) as I ran on the treadmill. However when things began to warm up over 40 degrees I worked my way outdoors. I am not going to lie; the wind and hills had me struggling. Each time I ran my thoughts began to be consumed with my performance. Instead of it being about the sights and sounds of all creation. And spending time with my heavenly papa and interceding- I had become self-focused.

It got worse after I had registered my daughter and myself for a 10k. I was now committed to a run. It wasn’t just something I wanted to do; it was something I was going to do! And I wanted to do it well enough to earn a medal (only the top 3 in each age group is awarded). Yet as each week of training passed my belief of what I could achieve became dimmer and dimmer.

My vision had become clouded. My focus was shifted. My ability to ‘see’ what I set out to ‘see’ had changed. Originally I wanted to pray God’s spirit to flow from me to others, and to take back dominion for His Glory, making a difference in the spiritual. But instead I got caught up in my own abilities, my performance. And honestly this created in me a whole new mind set and training regimen. It wasn’t about what God could do through prayer for those around me. It became me and what I could to do to gain praises, and adoration, of my achievements.

As race weekend came closer I knew my heart wasn’t right. I knew I was allowing my self-talk to take over my thoughts. Those insecurities that I believed were conquered came rushing in full force. Even though I knew what was going on, I didn’t take authority over it as I should. I passively put it to the side saying to myself; “Georgia you know what is going on. The enemy is trying to side track you because of all the things God wants to accomplish over race weekend.”

NOTE: Acknowledging the situation as it is, isn’t the same as taking authority over it.

Race day arrived with excitement yet doubt. I wanted to be an example for my daughter of strength and determination, being sure of my true identity. But in awe, I got to see my daughter rise up and be an example to me. The starting gun went off and she took off running the race for herself and no one else. I was proud as I watched her run out of my sights passing the other participants.

Me, well I was left to my own thoughts, running the race that I had set out to do. Trying to see those things I saw those early weeks of training; visualizing God entering the atmosphere as I pray open the heavens and the Holy Spirit ignite the area. As my thoughts shifted from making it about me and my performance, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. I became aware of those around me and prayed for them. I heard a young woman complain about her breathing as her boyfriend/husband told her she can do it, I prayed for God to help her achieve what she has trained to achieve. My whole demeanor changed in those few moments.

I would love to say that I finished strong in my intercession but my thoughts went back to my own performance as I got slower and slower to the point of walking. Each person that jogged passed me the heavier my legs felt. I was really beating myself up and then suddenly I heard this sweet familiar  voice; ‘Go Mom!’ It was my daughter Ashley. She ran with me on the sideline the last half mile, yelling ‘go mom, you got this, push, use your arms, your almost done!’

I may have not placed in the top three of my age group but I did shave two minutes off my best time. Ashley, on the other hand, dominated her age group and got first place! She is so awesome!

Even though the weekend was physical for both of us [Ashley never ran a 10k]  I believe it was good for our relationship.  We got to talk about some things that we have avoided in the past. And I believe for the first time she understands what I was trying to say (Thank you Lord).

It is funny, every time I think I am going to do something for God; He is really doing something awesome for me. I may not always see it when I am in the mist of it, but looking back I can see. Thank you papa, I know that you had accomplished many things in the spirit that weekend.

What I’ve learned for the next race.

Do not get so focused on my own performance. Enjoy the training as much as the events. Do it for myself and don’t compare myself to anyone else. And most of all – keep seeing what God is doing through intercession.

I am by no means a seasoned runner, experienced blogger, nor a Biblical scholar. I am just a woman eager to encourage everyone I meet to see God as I do: as a loving creator that so wants to partner with us to do those things in which HE has designed us to do.  My belief is that He is going to partner with us to be successful in the passions that we have – as long as we are glorifying Him. I hope this concept, though it may seem naive, would be exciting for each person that lives and breathes. It is our own uniqueness that He loves and HE loves us each uniquely.

My prayer would be that as you read my postings [Intercessor/Runner] it would only stir faith in you to pray for our communities and then watch God work.

gg~

Intercessor in training for a ½ marathon

Being that I am somewhat a beginner (maybe intermediate) runner. I really don’t have a specific training schedule to do a half marathon. I know that there are many types of training programs that help assist runners (form the novice to the experienced) to run these types of races, but this isn’t one. Instead, I want this training to be about intercession.

Intersession: a prayer to God on behalf of others.

Intercessor: A person who intercedes.

This may seem somewhat odd to you but let me explain. It was around 2012 when I stepped out my back door for my first ‘wog’ (walking and jogging). I would focus on my breathing, how I was striding, or how far I just jogged before I was found gasping for air. With all these things rolling around in my head I became discouraged. It was just all overwhelming for me; it was just too many things to think about. Well, this went on for several weeks until I found this scripture.

Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)

So, if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective

To imagine what was going on in the heavens was a lot easier for me to focus on than on how ridiculous I might have looked as I stared at the ground trying to run the one mile. At first, I had envisioned angels cheering me on and fanning me with their wings, empowering me to go a little further.

Hebrews 1:7…He makes His angels wings, his servants flames of fire. Each time I went to ‘wog,’ I would play it over and over in my mind that the heavens were cheering me forward.

Over time this led me to interceding for my family and friends in my life, which then developed to praying for the families that lived in the homes that I would ‘wog’ past. I envisioned that my prayers were opening the heaven windows to have HIS agents intervene in the lives of all these people (young and old). I could see it in my mind’s eye, angels being deployed! It was exciting for me to think that God was working miracles. I didn’t know these people, but God did.

I remember the first time I prayed this I could sense the angels being overjoyed to have an assignment. And instantly had this thought; are the angels given to us bored because we are not deploying them on missions? I can only assume you might be thinking that this concept is rather childish, but it does say…Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in (Luke 18:17 MSG).

Since then, I have expanded my intercession to go far beyond what my feet may tread. I envision more and more territory, like a faith bubble that grows in radius in the heavens as I gain mileage, being taken back from what has been stolen for the people in the towns, communities, cities, counties, and even state in which I run.

Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…

Subdue is defined as to overcome or bring under control, make it quieter or gentle. This is what I do as I partner with God in prayer for His will in the specific area for which I am praying. This is called intercession, praying for others, and this is how the Savior want us to live.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (MSG)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

I am not putting any kind of pressure on myself in these prayers; I just trust, and believe God is working His will. It is really simple, but I believer so powerful.

 

Now the true purpose of Intercessor / Runner blog post:

I want to stir up an army of intercessors! As we train for our upcoming races we can take back what has been stolen; peace, justice, unity and joy. When we read about the life of Christ, we can see that every person Jesus encountered, HE made a difference. Being Christians means more than just going to church, it means making a difference in the areas that we live and in the lives of those around us.

Personally, I have only done a few 5k runs with the thought of doing a full marathon before I hit a certain age. Well, that ‘certain age’ is quickly approaching and I have readjusted my goals a bit. I am going to attempt a half marathon (13.1 miles) before I try to do the full 26.2 miles. And as I do my training I will be lifting this community in which I live in prayer, but not only this community but the communities in which I will be running my 5ks, 10ks, and eventually a half marathon. Funny thing though, I am not entirely sure ‘where’ I will be running this race, not yet anyhow, but God does.

I want to encourage you to pray as well and watch expectantly for god to work. Each week I plan to post what has been laid on my heart to pray about with the hope it will stir a passion in you to pray as well. Together we can make a difference, and who knows, maybe you will find me running alongside of you in race.

My desire is that you would share how God has lead you in prayer for your communities, and also testify of HIS great works in your home towns. All for HIS glory!