A Charging Cheetah

There’s something I’ve wanted to do but haven’t yet….

Recently, my family was riding along in the car when my daughter asked my husband a series of questions. She asked him his favorite animal in which he replied, “Cheetah,” not knowing that she was going to say that the qualities of the animal you choose might represent what kind of person you would choose as a spouse. We laughed when she told us that. Oh, it’s just fun…how could I ever be like a cheetah? But then, after a few moments of silence, as we thought about it… well, maybe I am. I can be intense—especially if I’m running toward a goal for the Lord. (And at times, I also can be like the cheetah sprawled out under a shade tree doing absolutely nothing!)

I’ve been praying…and the time is now.

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what He has done for my soul.
I cried to Him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
Psalms 66:16-17

This coming week, I’m determined to cast fear aside and be a charging cheetah. I’ll pick up the pen and begin writing a project that has been on my heart for quite some time. It’ll be one of the biggest projects I’ve ever attempted. Hopefully, it will bring God glory at its completion; therefore, it’s worth chasing after! I’ve been praying about this, and I know the time is now. God has answered my prayer as the project will soon begin! (He has been patient with me.)

But truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer
or removed His steadfast love from me!
Psalms 66:19-20

I give Him great praise! I could not begin to attempt such a project without Him nor would I want to! I want it to be saturated with love for Him and Holy Spirit-led in every step.

People may think that something has to be completed for a prayer to be answered—but not for me! Sometimes, the beginning is the hardest. Ask a runner how hard it is to run, and you might be surprised to hear that the hardest part is getting to the track and beginning! That requires much discipline to plow through feelings, to push away other distractions, and get moving! Once you’re on the track, the running is easy. As a cheetah and as a runner must begin to run, so must a writer begin to write.

So, what is God asking you to do that you have been putting off?

Is there something He wants you to start or try?  If God has your heart, you can at least try for Him! All of us should be able to proclaim Psalms 66:16-17 at any point along the way as we see what He’s doing in us and for us.

Jesus may return or call me home before I get finished, for I don’t ever know what the future holds. But when I stand before Him face to face, I will at least know I tried with all my heart. I will not regret having many unwritten pages in my heart not spill out for others to read when there is much to share and much work to do to make an impact for His Kingdom.

Are you with me? Let’s be charging cheetahs for the sake of Christ and move forward with intensity! Pray, and give Him glory for spurring us into action for His Name’s sake. Pray throughout the process, and give Him great glory when the work is done! And, at the end, maybe we can rest under that shade tree for just a bit…before we get up and run with all we have once again for the glory of Christ!!!

I  wrote most of this devotional while my husband was in a meeting after church. He climbed into the car and said, “I thought of you. There was a picture of a cheetah in the pastor’s office.” 🙂

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Dear Lord, let our intensity be set afire because of You and You alone! Let our excuses, pitiful feelings, and earthly distractions dissolve completely away as we set before us the desire to complete those things You are calling us to do. We love You. Let our lives show that in the ways we serve You relentlessly. Thank You, Lord, for dying on the Cross for us…that alone is enough to keep us moving passionately and intensely forward in the goals You give each and every one of us! In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, amen.

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