Marvelous Monday: This mother wears combat boots!

Are you a little weary today, tired of fighting and just want to throw in the towel? If so, here is some timely encouragment to gird up those loins and pull yourself up by the bootstraps from one of our fav readers and guest writers, Melanie (aka Mella Bella). She has previously shared a fitness post here on the the topic of running but today we are delighted that she wanted to share some of what the Lord is doing in her heart.

For the past few months I've felt like God has me on the "fast track" of refinement. Over and again, opportunities arise in which I see two possible paths. One path is laced with grace. I can extend grace and seek unity and peace not only in my actions which are visible, but in my attitude which I could easily camouflage from onlookers.

The other path is paved with "the right to." The right to defend myself, the right to take offense, the right to quit the game, pick up my ball and go home.

Can I just admit that there are moments in my life in which I find it very hard to be a grown up woman? I'm talking about a grown up woman of God. The kind of woman who speaks the truth in love. The kind of woman whose spiritual branches artfully display the Fruit of the Spirit. The kind of woman who is not jealous, sarcastic or snarky. Oh it's easy when life is easy but when someone steps on your toes? Ouch.

But thank the Lord for THE LORD! His presence in the person of the Holy Spirit reveals snapshots of who I yearn to be, of who I CAN be in Him! And I am not willing to be any less. And He's not willing to let me.

But, I'll tell you, it does not come easy for me. I want to be right. I want to defend myself. I want to shout, "You're not playing fair!" and "You just don't understand!" I want to scrunch up my face, turn on my heel and announce, "I quit!"

God has done too much for me to do that to Him and to His body! I must choose to discipline my flesh, like Paul, who wrote, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor 9:27).

So while I may sometimes hesitate before the path of "the right to," and even take a step in that direction, I'm grateful for the Light of the Word revealing the potholes and quicksand down that path.

Paul teaches us that we are running and competing for a prize and we must exercise self-control if we are going to obtain the imperishable crown. He goes on to say that he fights his own flesh, and not as a shadow boxer but as one who disciplines his self-defeating, fleshly desires.

So I'll keep running and I'll keep fighting and if someone steps on my toes, it'll be okay and I'll choose not to take offense because starting now, this mother wears combat boots!

You can read more from Melanie on her blog here.