Training for a half marathon has definitely been freaken hard. There are many days I want to quit. The closer it gets to the actual big 13.1 mile run has been the hardest. I wonder what the heck I got myself into and why I thought this was a good idea. I have definitely had a lot of internal conversations over this half-marathon.
God is using this training to remind me what it takes to live the Christian life- hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation. There is no way I could run this half Marathon the end of the month if I hadn't started my training months ago. I couldn't of just woken up one morning, jogged a couple of laps and been ready for 13 miles. I couldn't have done it, no way. It has taken training diligently to get were I am right now. This is so true of my Christian life. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, worshiping the Lord equips me to run with vigor and stamina.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 is a passage God continually brings to mind since I started all of this running. Especially verse 27- "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." I remember my discipler in college talking about that verse when she was training for her marathon.
Now I get it. As humans with a sinful flesh, we're continually tempted and led astray by ungodly desires of the flesh. Rather than letting the flesh control me, Paul tells believers to beat their bodies into submission. Oftentimes I don't want to run just like often I don't feel like reading my Bible or getting on my knees in prayer. I don't always want to fast or wake up early for church or share the gospel with others. Sometimes I would rather watch TV or get on facebook than spend time memorizing Scripture or doing my Bible study. Living out the Christian faith requires great discipline. I have to force myself to sit before the Lord, and I have to discipline myself to spend extended time in prayer. I am not going to become knowledgeable of the Scriptures by accident. This takes hours and hours of disciplined training.
Now I get it. As humans with a sinful flesh, we're continually tempted and led astray by ungodly desires of the flesh. Rather than letting the flesh control me, Paul tells believers to beat their bodies into submission. Oftentimes I don't want to run just like often I don't feel like reading my Bible or getting on my knees in prayer. I don't always want to fast or wake up early for church or share the gospel with others. Sometimes I would rather watch TV or get on facebook than spend time memorizing Scripture or doing my Bible study. Living out the Christian faith requires great discipline. I have to force myself to sit before the Lord, and I have to discipline myself to spend extended time in prayer. I am not going to become knowledgeable of the Scriptures by accident. This takes hours and hours of disciplined training.
This training has been hard, but I am so thankful for it!!!!
