The Longest Ride
A view near Dunedin was as beautiful and rough as the 25-mile bike ride itself.
Nothing quite prepares you for being a parent. One such moment was a late-night phone call from our oldest daughter, Megan. She was studying abroad at the time and there was an 8-hour time difference. I answered the phone trying not to sound too sleepy. She had an urgent prayer need. “Mom, my buns died! I really hurt from this 25-mile bike ride. Will you pray for me?
I almost laughed out loud. This was a new one. “Sure, Megan. Absolutely. I will pray for your little buns. But why on earth did you go on a bike ride that long?”
“It was an ice breaker for all the study abroad students. I was behind the whole time, but I wasn’t going to quit.”
I’m reminded that often it’s unexpected events that will test what we’ve got on the inside of us. For Megan she had the tenacity to not give up and ride back on the truck.
From another perspective it underscores the value of spending time reading God’s Word, being in His Presence, having a prayer life, and simply just being still and listening for His voice. What you put in, is what will come out. That’s why it’s so important to be filled with God’s Word. It’s an active process. Romans 12:2 (NIV) puts it this way, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
When you’re pressed by circumstances what’s in you will come out. Your words will build up or tear down because life and death are in the power of the tongue. And God puts a lot of emphasis on words.
When my daughter needed prayer, I had something to pull from to meet that prayer need. Faith filled words that spoke in agreement to her situation, aligned with God’s Word.
We are instructed to be prepared. Before Joshua led the children of Israel, he was instructed, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).”
There is no time or distance in the spirit. And no faster delivery. No FedEx overnight. No Amazon Prime free delivery. But be aware of package thieves. Doubt, fear, unbelief.
Before I got off the phone with Megan the pain in her body was already leaving. I could recognize it in her voice. Restoration to fatigued muscles and aching muscles she wasn’t aware she had. Relieved. Which is why I’m happy to leave this 5-star review. Highly recommend.