Have you noticed how far you will go with something if your heart’s not in it. If I’m out running and I really don’t want to be there...I won’t last that long. In order for me to move forward and closer to God- I need to want it, even when it’s hard and I feel discouraged it’s about persevering because in the long run...I know it’s worth it.
2nd- You need support/ Equip yourself
If you're serious about running you don't just chuck on anything and go for a run barefoot. No- you wear the appropriate clothing, you need proper supportive running shoes in order to protect you from getting hurt (hopefully). Just as your relationship with God, if you're serious you will do whatever it takes to support and protect yourself in your journey with Him. In Ephesians 6 it talks about protecting yourself with Armor of God! This is something that we should take up and put on daily!!!
3rd- Water/ Food
Speaks for itself really- I went for a run the other day on a completely empty stomach- not cool. Or when I go without sufficient water it feels like my brain is thumping against the sides of my head- I have to stop, it’s unbareable and so bad on the body. If we try and keep journeying forward with God without actually investing time with Him, learning from Him, growing in Him- we become stale...stagnant. We have nothing fresh to continue with. Our words become lifeless and we become less creative, passionate, loving, spirit-led....well maybe I am just speaking for myself. But I become more and more distant from Him and become more like the world. If I don't feed off His word and His love, it's only natural that I become hungry- the only problem is where I go to satisfy this hunger?
4th- One eye on the now, One eye looking ahead!
Especially on bush runs, a wrongly placed foot can quickly become disaster. And when you're in the middle of bush with no phone and no-one knowing where you are....it's not really an ideal situation. Today I noticed how important it was for me to focus on each one of my steps as well as keeping an eye on my direction and upcoming branches and obstacles...not to mention spider webs (ahhh).
It really hit me how I need to do this in life as well. I have a tendency to charge through the day in order to experience the next day, without REALLY experiencing the present day! The amount of things I must miss God doing because I mind is focused on another day...with this in mind you need to keep a healthy balance of looking ahead....especially in regards to eternity!
5th- What voice will you listen to?
I get to this stage in my run where no matter how loud my music is, this voice pierces through all of it. "Just make it to the next corner and that will do! The hill's too steep I can't do that, Everything hurts I can't go on, I can just stop for a bit- I won't be long!" Most of the time...I then I grit my teeth and run even faster and harder with more passion and determination..however there is the odd ocassion I give in!
Unfortunately we allow this to happen far too often in our life. We get soo surrounded in "life" we can no longer hear the voice of God, or sometimes we are at a really good place with God yet that other voice still penetrates through. The devil himself, or by using other people, speaks into our lives criticizing us, insulting us, questioning us- and the sad thing is...we listen! As we listen to their voices sometimes we actually start to believe what they are saying- "we can't do this, it is impossible, I am too weak". Our journey is hindered...sometimes even stopped completely.
Is this the voice of the Almighty God- I don't think so! In fact i know so! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He promises to be by our side and to never let us go! We can run that hill in our lives! We can persevere even when it hurts! We can't afford to stop and listen in the wrong direction- there's too much at stake!
I will keep running- even when it hurts! Because despite what I hear and sometimes feel, my God is soo worth it and I only want to be taking steps that GLORIFY Him, that HONOUR Him, that LOVE Him, that SERVE Him and that bring me and most importantly OTHERS into a closer relationship with Him!
