Quitting and Beginning Again..

Have you ever set a goal and then blown it? All of us can relate to this. Sometimes we make up our minds to give up a certain food or activity and it gets really tough and we "give up" or "give in." OH how I can relate. I had one of my strange dreams last night that I believe the Lord was speaking through. Most of you probably don't know that many years I played a sport, yes, ME, I did, really. I played basketball for about 2 years (on a team) and a few years before that for fun. I used to enjoy going out in my drive way and shooting hoops and I actually got decent at it. However, because of the absolute rediculous town I live in and the people that reside here I was treated unfairly and never received more than a minute of playing time. Of course as a child I just thought it was because I was awful but really...it was because most of my coaches were aloud to coach their own daughter and played them instead. Okay, moving on..back to the dream. I dreamt I (as a college student) joined this summer basketball team around here which is strange because I haven't thought about basketball in really long time (I try to forget thoughts of me + sports). I woke up this morning thinking that my poor body has been so abused by no exercise and 14 hours of sleep per night this summer it is resorting to past memories :). Anyhow, in the dream I kept trying to make a basket and I was really struggling. I believe it's because it has been SO long since I attempted to play I lost what skill I had gained. What a sinking feeling! To lose something you once had. I have experienced this with running as well. I love to run! You wouldn't know it because I don't do it..but I have noticed everytime I begin running again I struggle because I no longer easily run two miles..I have to start again with only being able to run a .5 mile. Its so frustrating because I remember the days when I ran 3-5 mi easily so I end up giving up..which only leads to more discouragement. I have found this to be true in my walk with Christ too. In the past two weeks I have stepped it up in prayer, devos, and even my standards yet, the other day I slipped back into old habits...I skipped out on devos that day, and fell back into old habits! Instead of seeing it for what it was..just one day of old habits..I got frustrated that I didn't do a better job and gave up! So it's been more like 4 or 5 days since I have had a devo. I think this is a pretty common tactic of the enemy. If he can just get us off track a little we will give up! Perserverance is something we need to be praying for so we can endure. How many times do we give up JUST as we are about to receive break through? So my challenge for myself and for all of you is:

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.-Romans 12:11-12MSG