"Spiritual Wind Sprints" For Depth in Grace

I came across this 2-minute video recently – it is from a 2013 talk by Tim Keller on Gospel Renewal – and I thought about wind sprints back in my football playing days.

Wind sprints were not fun or affirming.  At the end of a three-hour practice in August, our coach would line us up along the goal line, blow the whistle and we would dash to the 10-yard line, turn around, whistle and dash back to the goal.  He would move to the 15-yard line and repeat, adding 5 yards to each repetition.  You get the picture: Not Fun.

But in the fourth quarter of a game, when strength and energy are failing, the conditioning of those wind sprints would pay off.  Those who had given themselves to the exercise, reaped the benefit.

So this video reminded me that there is a long-term benefit from facing challenging realities.  Tim Keller lays out three categories of questions for asking ourselves and those we have a relationship with that may not be fun or affirming in the short-term, but that can deepen and strengthen our conditioning in the Gospel of God’s Grace.

So watch the video and let the questions blow the whistle as you develop your depth.  Below are his questions gathered from a recent post on churchleaders.com spotlighting the video

Evidence of God’s presence in your life

• How real has God been this week to your heart?
• How clear and vivid is your assurance and certainty of God’s forgiveness and fatherly love. To what degree is that real to you right now?
• Are you having any particular seasons of sweet delight in God? Do you really sense his presence in your life? Do you really sense him giving you his love?

Evidence of Scripture changing you

• Have you been finding Scripture to be alive and active?
• Are you finding certain biblical promises extremely precious and encouraging? Which ones?
• Are you finding God’s calling you or challenging you to something through the word, in what ways?

Evidence of a growing appreciation for God’s mercy

• Are you finding God’s grace more glorious and moving now than you have in the past?
• Are you conscious of a growing sense of the evil of your heart, and in response, a growing dependence on and grasp of the preciousness of the mercy of God?