Running the Race

Running. 

I used to hate it. I started running with a good friend about 4 years ago. It was horrible. My body hurt. My lungs hurt. My will power was 0. Thankfully my good friend was my motivation. We started running together and her will power was enough for both of us.

Then I started to love it! We would run, walk, run, walk until we built up our endurance. Less than 2 months we ran (I walked some) our first 5k! That put a fire in me to keep going and run faster and longer. I was losing weight (baby weight at the time) and I was eating healthy and I felt so good physically and mentally. We ran a couple more 5k's and then about a year later we ran a half marathon! 13.1 miles of pounding the pavement! I loved it! I never wanted to give up and I was full of energy and mostly adrenaline at the end!!!

Here's Hubby and me before the race!!! I was so excited! We had trained for months for this day!!

This is Jada and me after her Girls on The Run race!! I'm so proud of her!!

And then I got lazy... we would run 2, 3 maybe 4  days a week but less miles. Greg's schedule changed so we had to start running at 5am. I was tired. I wanted to roll back over and pull the covers up over my head. So I did a lot of days.

So now I don't hate to run but my motivation to get out of bed and put my running shoe on is scarce. If I can get up at a decent hour then I'm all for it. But when my alarm sounds at 4:40am I'm likely to text, "sleep" to my 2 running buddies. If they make me get up sometimes I will but my lack of motivation wins all too often.

This has to change. I went for a run this morning by myself. My back hurts,....my knee hurts but I went anyway. I didn't run very far but I did it. Hopefully I'll run again tomorrow and the next day. I have to do it even when I don't feel like it. I feel better, I make better choices and I have more energy.

That's how spending time in God's word is too. I used could think of a million things I had to get done before I sat down with the One who really matters. He longs to spend time w/ me and I'm going to put a pile of laundry before Him? Yep.... I did it too many times to count. On occasion I still might do this depending on the day.

But my relationship with Jesus needs to be worked on. Daily time in prayer and reading His word. The more I do it the better I feel and the more I love Him! The more I understand Him. The more I crave His word and will for my life rather than my own. And when I don't? Well, I was there not too long ago. I was on anxiety medicine. (and let me clarify- I do think anxiety medicines are necessary sometimes- they were not in my case) Life was too hard for me. I was trying to do it myself. I felt lost, confused and discouraged. I cried out to Jesus for answers. He was the answer and I was being my own problem. So, I started out slow. Reading a little devotion more here and there. Spending lots in time in prayer. In the car, in the shower, washing dishes, doing housework... in between conversations with my girls. I prayed. I asked God to change me. I couldn't do it on my own. And although I'm a long, long way from where He wants me, I'm allowing Him to lead more with each sunrise! The power of God's word is amazing and can do great things in our lives when we let it!

So I'm planning to run tomorrow! I'll let you know how that works out! Here's some scripture I think apply perfectly to this issue!!

Until another post, Happy Running!!

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 

Proverbs 12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.