Run the race in such a way that you may obtain the prize. All athletes are disciplined in their training. So I run with purpose in every step. I discipline my body like an athlete, training to do what it should.1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Let us strip off every weight that slows us down and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2. Im writing this as Im dripping in sweat from one of my most difficult runs...3 miles in the heat, no wind, & cramps in my thigh, calf, & side. Two days ago I ran the same distance, much cooler, windy, & feeling great throughout. So why shouldnt I expect to run it w no problem today? But it wasnt easy; the elements had changed, though the path did not. So during this entire run I prayed & kept saying, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). I know that verse isnt specific to athletics, though it is used as such more often than not. But when the leg/side cramps hit, I did what David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 - I encouraged myself in the Lord. Though this wasnt a spiritual battle, it was a battle nonetheless. I kept saying to myself, push through...youve got this...you made this before...and so on. Ive been an athlete all my life, so this 3 mile run was nothing compared to many struggles Ive faced in sports. But as I returned from the run, the Lord gave me encouragement to write this. Because it was easier to convince myself to quit & walk than to push through. I couldnt see my finish line so it felt like FOREVER & longer to get back than to get to my halfway mark. I kept thinking, Its hotter today...Im not feeling as well...I need some wind... Excuses that were legit, but would cause me to give up sooner & not push through. Hebrews above says to run the race w endurance. Quitting is easy, but you never build endurance to push through difficulties, trials, pain, etc. Anyone can quit; many do. Anyone can excuse & justify; many will. Even though my path didnt change, the elements did. It made it difficult to run the same course today. Isnt life like that? Sometimes we go through our day-to-day, seemingly like the days before, but something happens to cause pain, difficulty, etc. We want to give up & excuse ourselves for behaving/thinking the way we do. We dont have our encouragement from others, so instead of encouraging ourselves, we speak words of defeat & excuse. We rely on others to do what we can do ourselves. We excuse ourselves from enduring what would be the difference between victory & defeat. The awesome thing was when I finally saw my finish line I picked up speed; I felt victory; I knew I could do it even if it was a struggle more than the last time. We may not see our finish line in life, but we can be victorious w every step...every gain. Dont give up. Dont quit. You can also do ALL things through Christ bc He will give you strength for the journey.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:13:14 +0000
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