As I was running this morning, some things occurred to me. I'm not a fast runner and I don't have great form. Truthfully, I struggle with running. But I love the way it makes me feel. Once I have settled into the run, usually after about a mile, and for the rest of the day I feel as if I'm on top of the world (if you're having a Leonardo DiCaprio moment right now I'll pause for you..........................). Okay, back to reality. :-) When I run, I tend to pray a lot and think a lot. Today my thoughts started to center on how running and life are very similar.
First, I thought about my pace. Like I said, I'm not a fast runner. I have to set a steady pace or I just can't run as far as I want. If I start out to fast, then I end up walking because I've run out of breath or I get a cramp. If I start to slow, then I find myself wanting to give up because the run is taking to long. The same thing applies to life. If we jump into something to fast, we tend to burn out or make mistakes because we didn't plan ahead. But when we take the time to plan and set goals, we can accomplish what we set out to do. In 1 Peter 5:10, Peter says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." Sometimes when in life and in running, we suffer. But we have to trust that God will restore us and make us strong and steadfast so we can finish this life race for Him.
The second thing that occurred to me while running was that I don't have very good form. Meaning, I tend to slouch and plod. If you are a runner then you know what slouching and plodding can do to you. It's hard on your joints and your muscles when you plod along. And slouching makes it hard to take the good breaths you need to keep your oxygen levels up. So I have to focus on keeping my shoulders back and listening for the sound of my foot steps so I know if I'm plodding. Trying to keep good form when I'm running is almost more tiring than the run itself! But I discovered that if I keep my head up and my eyes focused ahead, my form was better almost instantly. Why? Because I was focused on what was ahead of me. Not the ground under my feet or the distractions to my right or left. This also allowed me to adjust my pace because I could see the hills coming and I knew that if I wanted to run up them, it would require a little more effort.
When we keep our eyes focused on what is ahead of us in life, instead of the distractions to our right and left, we can see the obstacles we are about to hit before they get to us. Oh how often I have had something hit me right in the face all because I was distracted by something that wasn't even on my path! James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." I consider those distractions, those things that are behind me that I can't change, those things that are beside me yet not on my path, I consider those things to be from the devil. Simply reminding my self to resist him and he will flee helps me to keep my eyes focused ahead on the path the God has for me.
The last thought about life that cropped up during my run was that it's better with someone. My pace was much slower today than on Sunday when I ran a 5K race with my daughter. It was so cool to have a lot of people around encouraging you in your run and being able to encourage them too was awesome. We weren't meant to do this life by ourselves. We need to be around friends and family that will encourage us in our walk with the Lord so that we will stick with it. There is something wonderful about being surrounded by a group of people that are doing what you are doing. They know how difficult it is, they know how far you have to go because they have to go the same distance too. Hebrews 3:13 says, "But encourage one another daily, so long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." The devil will come against us in this life with distractions, trying to make us think that our sin is better than what God has planned. Surround yourself with other believers who will encourage you every day so that you don't get distracted.
I know this was a bit longer of a post than I usually write but I wanted to put my thoughts down somewhere permanently as much for myself as for you. I hope you will keep in mind that when we follow the Lord, we are not guaranteed as easy race. We have to keep our eyes on Him, keep moving forward and surround ourselves with others who are doing the same thing. Have a blessed day friend!
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