You run like a girl.  Why is that?  Why do you swing your arms, pumping your forearms up toward the middle of your chest rather than holding them tucked squarely down by your sides, pumping them forward and back and forward—again and again—like a boy?
Yes, just why do you run THAT way?
Why do you run in THAT form?
Why can’t you run like all the others?
Why must you run—oddly?

Years ago, there was a boy who ran for the team, one who did not run with good form. No one would ever accuse his form of being, well—pretty.  In fact, his form looked awkward and off balanced, so we worked to change his form, and a horrible thing happened.   His race times increased. 
If anyone knows anything about racing, the goal is ALWAYS to run and finish in the lowest, shortest, and fastest amount of time.  Personal Records (PRs) are gained as runners bring DOWN their times, not increase them; yet here we were, changing this runner’s form, changing the way he looked as he ran, making him look “pretty” to the spectators watching, and no longer was he racing with the wind but two steps behind the wind, slower than before, slower than when he ran in an ugly form.

Years ago, there was a girl, and she ran beautifully.  We would climb off the bus at meets, warm up, study the course, stretch, huddle up, pray, and then line up to race.
When the gun sounded, she ran “like the wind,” and she was a sight to behold.  As she passed by each marker on the cross-country course, the spectators’ comments remained the same.  “Doesn’t she look so good.  Look at her beautiful form,” and they did not lie.  She was a beauty, head straight, arms pumping, striding out, covering the distance of the course…..finishing slower than other runners, seldom crossing the finish line first.

Why is this?
Why does one runner perform with an uglier-than-most form and cross first, winning race after race?
&
Why does another runner perform with a most beautiful form and seldom cross first, hardly winning any of the races?
The Word of God speaks of this truth.  Do not believe me but go with me into God’s Word.

“So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you;
You shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.
You shall walk [you shall RUN] in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”

(Deuteronomy 5: 32-33)

& Again. . .

And Again. . .

“Jesus [Himself] answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word;  and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

(John 14: 23)

Today, we may not know what God is revealing to another believer.
Today we may not know what God is leading another believer to do or to go or to speak.
BUT THIS WE DO—INDIVIDUALLY—KNOW!
People will often offer us advice, both good and bad, but God has created each of us uniquely.  God has an individual plan and a different way of running His race, for each Christian.
I cannot and should not pattern after you or try to run your race in the same way you run your race.
AND
You should not pattern after me or try to run my race in the same way I run my race.

Isn’t that Beautiful!!!
Isn’t that Wonderful!!!

Let us stop trying to copy others at the cost of losing our sweet walk with God’s Holy Spirit. 
Let us follow God’s prompting, going wherever He leads us (Individually) to go & doing what He leads us (Individually) to do.
The Bible is so clear;  our best guidance is the hand of the Holy Spirit upon us, guiding our steps, as we live, modeling Jesus with our eyes fixed solely upon our Father God.

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. 
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! 
Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens 
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.”

(Psalm 57: 7-11)

Be thankful TODAY and EVERY DAY, for you are uniquely made.
Worship God with all your being as you run in the way that God leads you to run.