zeal

Pastor and I were discussing just last night...
The cost of being the best.
How much it takes...
Literally...
To feed those who are set apart for gold.

Of course the olympics prompts desire and story in us all.

Amazed as we recalled...

One of the best, male swimmers in the world consumes 12, 000 calories a day.

His breakfast alone...

Would feed me for 2 days or more.

Zeal...

It's a game changer.

It redirects our day... our moments... our entire lives...

Even... our hunger.

Requiring us to reach in desire for that which fuels...

Growth and excellence.

I am no athlete.

I am not an exceptionally athlete...

But I am learning zeal.

As I read this morning...

My heart burned.

The disciples were remembering together...

Papa's heart for His bride...

"Zeal for your house will consume me."

Wow!

My immediate utterance...

"Make my heart like yours.

May my heart be zealous for your church...

For your people."

In order to be in the running for the gold...

In order to be like The Master...

I must...

Sacrifice...

Train...

Hope...

Expect...

Suffer...

And set myself up for success...

Keeping my eyes on the finish line.

When the goal seems impossibly out of reach...

I will declare His promises over my life.

I will do as the "baton-passers" before me...

I will remember...

Waiting for Him to shift things nearer.

He loves it when I look to Him for help.

Especially in the exercise of growing.

I delight as I eat in satisfaction.

Always refueling for the race set before me.

In alert position...

For the trigger to be pulled...

This runner is "taking your mark."

Running to get the prize.

The gold!

His likeness!

To stand before The throne with His anthem being sung over me.

Praying for more zeal.