Some of you may know that I recently started running. I have always struggled with running. I couldn't breathe well, had stomach cramps when I had to run back in my school days, and just basically didn't like it. I am also very stubborn and don't like not being able to do things. So, in January, I decided to work at it and get to the point where I could run a mile. At the time, 30 seconds of random running while I walked on my treadmill was a triumph.
Nine months later and I'm running three miles four days a week and actually working at running faster. I decided to change my goal from one to three miles awhile back. When I reached the three mile goal, I found an app to help me record my times, along with other stats only I would care about.
From the beginning, I needed to listen to something to pass the time. Running three miles gave me a little over 30 minutes of time in the morning to just listen. I used this time to listen to random sermons, videos my friends sent, audiobooks, and my scripture reading for the day. I discovered I seemed more focused while I ran. I could remember where on my route I was while listening to a particular part of whatever I was listening to.
So, it made me start thinking more about what I listened to during those 30 minutes... until I found the app. Once I found the app, I had to listen to only things that would play in the background while I could watch the numbers on my phone telling me how I was doing. That meant I was mainly listening to audiobooks.
A week or so into that routine, I was really struggling with my running. My times were slow and I was feeling unmotivated. It was just my running. I felt strangely off the whole week and I couldn't figure out why. Thinking about it that next weekend, I realized I was just squeezing in my daily bible reading wherever I could. Rather than taking advantage of the time in the morning when I could focus better and start my day right, I was listening to whatever. I decided to go back to listening to my scripture.
So, on Monday morning I ran while listening to 1 John 2. 1 John 2:15- 17 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
My commentary for the day said this, "Try this and you can feel great. Try this and you can look great. Try this and you can be great. This is satan's strategy toward us. The lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, the pride of life. None of this is of the Father, but of the world. We need to have a different outlook. Real satisfaction comes from a spiritual relationship with God. Real beauty isn't about outward image. Inner character is what counts and real purpose is found not in temporal pursuits but in counting for eternity.
And there it was. Why had the weeks before felt off? I had lost focus. Yes, I still read my scripture, but it wasn't my morning focus. I was fitting it in wherever was easiest. My main focus had become running faster, being more fit, and toning my muscles instead of 30 minutes of time to listen to my scripture and commentary, to listen to what God had to say to me that morning. Once I turned my focus back to Him, I actually ran better and had a better week all around.
How awesome that God spoke to me on that run and reminded me how much He cared about me and about our time together.
So, where was God that morning? He was talking to me while I ran.
Blessings,
Jennifer
