I recently resumed my early morning jogging routine after a three year sabbatical. How i missed it! I particularly enjoy the early mornings to jog because the air has a lovely crispiness, the weather is perfectly right especially in the summer with the sun majestically rising. Not to forget that the park i frequent is quiet and literally empty. Its so peaceful compared to later in the day when its alive buzzing with activity. The 30 minutes or so are a time of reflection on God, His creation, and His love for mankind.
I was excited to resume jogging even though i was intimidated that after such a long time away from it, I lacked the endurance it takes to keep running when one is tired. However as the gym instructors always say, you have to start somewhere and build on it as you go. The key thing is to start. Once i started, am amazed at how great consistently getting out of my house each morning has made each day better than the one before it in terms of form and endurance. I love to ponder on the similarities between my physical running and the spiritual journey of faith we believers are in with Christ.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Hebrews 12: 1-2)
- Make the choice to start running. It all begins when you actually get out of the house and start on your route. Until i actually began the routine, i had no idea the capabilities i had to endure long distances. Initially I was very unfit and got tired very quickly. But as i have consistently done it, my body keeps adjusting and am able to go longer distances than i could have imagined i was capable of. Thinking of our faith ; Many people out there hear of Christianity, but are yet to make the conscious decision to put their faith in Jesus. The fear of what living as a Christianity involves makes many hold back. I was once one of those who thought giving my life to Christ would hinder me from enjoying my life. This truly a lie from the pits of hell that keeps many out of the pure bliss of living a life surrendered to Christ. All those lies are just that lies and you will never know this till you make the decision to give Christ your life. I also think of that idea the Holy Spirit has inspired you to take on and you are afraid to do it. Please take the step to start on it, the abilities in you to bring that idea to fruition will only be revealed when you start.
- Obstacles are a given. We are bound to face many kinds of obstacles along the journey. Incidentally, many dog owners take their dogs for a walk in the mornings. I have always been uncomfortable with dogs generally because of a traumatic experience i faced in my childhood. My young brother was bitten by the neighbours dog which was always so friendly. I prefer my own spaces to be dog free. This fear of dogs was particularly highlighted when we relocated to Europe where dogs are a real thing. Over the years i thought the fear had mellowed till i resumed jogging. Running and dogs just heighten the fear even when the dogs are minding their business. All these horrible scenarios of the dogs breaking loose from their leashes make a movie in my brain that literally ruins my jogging experience. I am learning to face this fear for dogs in the face and keep running even when everything in me wants to stop and give up. Yes , there have been those dogs that probably smell the fear off my sweating self and back menacingly at me literally stopping me in my tracks. There are obstacles in the race of faith too. FEAR is an obstacle to living by faith. Choosing to continue living in Sin an obstacle, Doubts, worry, disobedience are some real obstacles in this journey of faith. They will hinder one’s progress. The way to overcome the obstacles is to remember to live out what God’s word says about that obstacle. Each time i see a dog on my running path, i get to choose whether i will let my fear for the dog stop me from continuing or continue running. 99% of the time, the fear is not legitimate because the dogs are trained to mind their business. Similarly most of the obstacles in our faith journey are not legitimate, and when they are, God’s word has wisdom on how to navigate them.
- Stay in Your lane.- When running especially in a public space be at a park or on the roadside it’s key that as a runner you keep a lane of sorts especially when there is no clear demarcation of a running lane. This is helpful particularly for other runners on the same course and others who are walking regularly. Some people will be walking, others are running very fast, others are jogging Leaving space and room for others to be. Each of us has a race marked out for us. No one’s race is the same as others. Some are sprinting, others running, others walking for reasons that are not always known to us, so desist from comparison in your journey of faith. Keep your own pace in the race. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
- Keep focused on where you are headed– A serious jogger is focused on where they are headed. From time to time, one can look behind , but for the most part the focus is ahead. It is a distraction if one keeps looking and focusing on what they have accomplished rather than on what they are yet to accomplish. The past is not our main focus, but rather we are encouraged to keep looking ahead, to focus on what the Lord is doing in the now and its impact on the future. Am not saying the past is all useless, but that most of our energies and focus cant be on what was but should be on what is, and what will be. Jesus modelled this truth for us as described in Hebrews 12 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- .. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which easily ensnares us , and let us run with endurance- running/ jogging light definitely makes a difference than running burdened with irrelevant gear for the run. SIN is inhibits us from coming into all God has purposed for us. We never fully realise or live out our God given purpose when we cuddle with sin and give it residence in our lives. Sin keeps us trapped, we can’t move as we can when we are not trapped.
- Consistency is a friend of endurance. It’s been a month since i resumed jogging/ running actively and the progress i have made over the last few weeks is amazing. My ability to run a longer distance without tiring or stopping improves each time i get out and actually run. Practice makes perfect has never rung truer. Consistently showing up and running makes a huge difference, a better difference. Consistently making time to read the word of God, spending time in prayer, fellowship with other believers have a powerful impact on our endurance in the race that God has set out for us.
Don’t you realise that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)