Physical Workout vs. Spiritual RealityThere's nothing like a good workout, but just last week I was running on the treadmill and I hit the wall!! I was only 15 minutes into my normal 20 minute run, and I felt like I wasn't going to make it. My ankles were hurting, my knees were hurting and I had a sharp pain in my side; it was an ugly deal. And it didn't help that I had just had a big cheeseburger from Kincaids the day before either :) As I contemplated quitting, I had a flashback to my days of running track, and something that Coach Tony used to always scream to me while I was running in a 400 meter race: "Keep your form!". The 400m is one lap around the track and during that last 100 meters everything in your body begins to hurt and what typically happens is an athlete will begin to lose his form, his stride will weaken, he won't move his arms in sync with his legs, and he'll let his head fall back. All of this not only looks really ugly, but it also slows down the runner, and by slowing him down, it actually makes him endure his pain even longer. Coach Tony screaming "keep your form" meant that I needed to keep my stride strong, continue to move my arms, and to keep my head up and stay focused on the finish line. And as I ran on the treadmill, I began to take that advice to heart. But it didn't only impact my physical pain, I also saw a tremendous amount of spiritual truth in it.
I thought about the reality of going through tough times in the Christian life. Just like I wanted to quit during my workout, tough times usually make us want to throw in the towel; maybe you've experienced it like I have. But one thing I realized is that we must keep our form at all costs; and what represents our form in the Christian life? I believe it is our spiritual disciplines (things that bring us closer) to God. Here are just a few: Prayer, Devotional Bible Reading, Bible Study, Spiritual Service, Fasting, Worship, and Solitude. These are things that keep us focused on the journey ahead of us, and if we lose sight of them, it can actually make our travel through a tough time take longer. Next time the Lord sends you through something, remember to keep your form; or if you're currently going through something, KEEP YOUR FORM. Don't sway or get sluggish, keep your head up and stay focused on what God has called you to do. And draw near to the Lord with all your might. I promise you, actually He promises you that He will draw near to you in return! KEEP YOUR FORM and don't give up!
I thought about the reality of going through tough times in the Christian life. Just like I wanted to quit during my workout, tough times usually make us want to throw in the towel; maybe you've experienced it like I have. But one thing I realized is that we must keep our form at all costs; and what represents our form in the Christian life? I believe it is our spiritual disciplines (things that bring us closer) to God. Here are just a few: Prayer, Devotional Bible Reading, Bible Study, Spiritual Service, Fasting, Worship, and Solitude. These are things that keep us focused on the journey ahead of us, and if we lose sight of them, it can actually make our travel through a tough time take longer. Next time the Lord sends you through something, remember to keep your form; or if you're currently going through something, KEEP YOUR FORM. Don't sway or get sluggish, keep your head up and stay focused on what God has called you to do. And draw near to the Lord with all your might. I promise you, actually He promises you that He will draw near to you in return! KEEP YOUR FORM and don't give up!
"Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary." - Isaiah 40:31
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:2-4
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