Perserverance

This past June 15th I made a resolution to change for the better and get this temple back in shape.
I went out for a one mile run and to be honest it was more of a pathetic job than anything. I am sure it resembled more closely to a bison rumbling across the prairies to any outside observer. More than 2 years had passed since making my last real attempt at getting in shape and over the span of that time I had gone through many difficult challenges; especially in the career arena. 2 layoffs and 11 months of unemployment along with my mother being diagnosed with thyroid cancer didn't help my cause of not wanting to do anything except eat and assume a depressed state of mind. My pride had been crushed and my spirit felt like it had no life remaining in it.

Tomorrow was going to be my 36th birthday and I was feeling pretty worthless. Where had the last 4 1/2 years gone? That was the amount of time that had passed since my daughter's 5th birthday and the last time I ran in a competitive race. My body has been a pathetic example of how our temple's are supposed to look like. Mine had more of the look of a condemed building deemed an unsafe structure and awaiting demolition by way of wrecking ball. I was a mess. I had allowed attack after attack to punch holes in my armor and leave me vulnerable to any pending assault. My core had been crushed by a worldly, demonic onslaught called Corporate America. My talents, abilities and efforts were sucked completely out of me and used like a drug. I was given a sentence of death before I ever had life. My outcome had already been determined, it was just a matter of time before the sentencing was completed and I was cutoff at the knees and left beaten and bleeding to fend for myself in this cuthroat economy.

But God has called me for more than what this world has refused to acknowledge. He has called me to be bold and to be strong and courageous. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and I have been called to be a warrior for Christ; a general in His army. I have been called for things much higher than this world considers acceptable. I have a higher calling and decided to refuse the death sentence I had previously been given. Why? because my Jesus already conquered the gates of hell and took back the keys and we have victory in Him. We win in the end! There is no need to feel complete defeat and lack of purpose. We all have a calling and a purpose. So I made a decision to throw off these grave clothes and put a new coat of armor on. In order to wear this new covering of armor it is going to require more from me. While it is more protective...it is heavier. The Word says in Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required." In order for me to carry this new annointing and armor I must get myself in shape.

Not only did I need to be in shape physically, but also spiritually. I had become drained and depleted. Something Brother Tommy Burchfield taught us back at Texas Bible Institute was that we needed to "put the Word in us when we don't need it, so it's there when we do need it." I hadn't been putting the word in me during slow times and once the attacks started bombarding me my defenses were weak and vulnerable and I didn't have the time to prepare. But I have a God who loves me and tells me so. He has shown me there is a light at the end of the tunnel and when things look the darkest and we seem to reach the lowest depths He is there with His hand extended to pull us up and give us a way out. He will even pull us up out of that pit and sling us onto His back and carry us to higher ground. And this is exactly what happened to me. He picked me up and carried me to higher ground. He administered first aid to my wounds and gave me a clean bill of health to continue forward, but I had to show I was willing to accept it and live in His victory.

So when I went running that evening before my 36th birthday I wasn't just running to get physically fit, I was running to strengthen my spirit. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I must keep it in pristene shape and condition. He deserves the best and I have repented for allowing myself to accept less for my King.
So when I am running and training and things seem uphill and hard, I have to remember I am doing it for several reasons and must perservere and not give up. When I am feeling that my day is crazy and is spiraling out of control, that is when it is time to exercise my spirit. I know that I must train daily in the word and prayer in order to have the weapons necessary for this crazy world. I must persevere if I want to be successful. As I have heard throughout my entire life in the athletic world, "No pain...No gain." If you are not willing to give up something, you will never be able to acquire what you really want. If you want a deeper walk with Christ, you have to sacrifice your time and sleep and spend time in prayer, fasting and reading His Word! If you want to stay in shape and keep your temple looking and feeling good, you will have to eat right, sleep better, give up some of your time and work out.

I read this verse this morning and it is very appropriate and I think will become one of the ones I use to motivate myself daily in my race as a Christian.
Remember the words in Hebrews 12:1 "...let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us."
and in
1 Cor. 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqqualified for the prize." that I plan on keeping.