Prostrate In His Presence: 2

Prostrate (adjective)

pros·​trate | \ ˈprä-ˌstrāt  \

: completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." Psalm 94:19 KJV

I remember a time when I had not been running for quite some time, and I decided that I needed to start running again. I enlisted myself into a 5K called the Dirty Girl Mud Run, and got a few other women to sign up with me. I remember that as the weeks got shorter and shorter, I started thinking that maybe I should start doing some light running to remind my body of the great runner that I was in previous years. 

Yup. It never happened. I never practiced. I never went running. I never jogged. I did nothing. 

On the first half-mile of this 5K, I thought that I would die. This couldn't be happening. Not ME!, "Mrs. All Around Athlete", "Track Star"?! It was at this moment that I realized that I was going down, and quick. I was about to be "prostrate in the presence" of at least a thousand other women! My girls crowded around me, gave me water, took good care of me, loved on me, and prayed for me. But, still, all I wanted to do was to submit, to surrender...to the ground that was calling me! "Lay down, Shauna, Lay down!" 

Merriam Webster Dictionary calls this "prostrate", with the definition as stated above; "completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise".

Hear me. Sometimes, we find it hard to do what's expected of us. I'm sure that not one of the ladies that ran with me on that day expected me to fall out and surrender to the ground, but it happened. There will be times when you feel "completely overcome" by your circumstances and you will have to be strong enough to admit that it's time to take a break and to get refilled, refueled, and rejuvenated. This will be one of those decisions that will set you apart as a wise leader. Giving up your own will and your own power to rise and to rely on God to RISE IN YOU, will be the icing on the cake, the cherry on top that will make the difference in HOW YOU FINISH! How you finish is determined by how you surrender in the process. 

Be encouraged. Find joy in the consolation that you will definitely find in the secret place of His presence. It's all in the surrender. 

PRAYER: Father, Today I give up. I give up trying to do it myself. I give up using my own strength and striving in my own power to rise. I surrender it all to you, and I ask that you teach me Your ways. Welcome me once again to sweet fellowship with you and strengthen me with renewed vitality and with your power to rise. In Jesus' name. Amen.