TRAINING:
What are different things we train for? We train for sports, careers, marathons, the armed forces, having a child, marriage.....I could go on and on. Training is a crucial part of our life for it prepares us to make a living, provide for our families or allow us to live, long healthy lives.
I started running almost 2 years ago today. I have completed 20 5K's, 5 10K's, 5 Half Marathons, was a member of a Ragnar relay team and completed my first Full Marathon last spring. Running allowed me to refocus my life, gave me a new start and something to work towards. I had to develop a routine and demand myself to follow through each day to achieve the results and the complete each race. Running
Life can be related to running. How do we train for life? The past 2 years I have tried to strengthen my faith. Faith training is much more important than any other training we will ever do in life. Develop a routine to train your faith. I bought a daily devotion book last year that has made a huge impact on my life. Each morning I read the book and write down and highlight my focus for the day. This routine has helped my life become more complete and more fulfilling. God's will and His love are worth our training, for the ultimate reward in life is everlasting life in heaven. I encourage all of you to start faith training.....it will make a huge difference in your life.
Below are some suggestions that may help to get started:
1. I Am Second website. It has a 22 day challenge that I'm doing now. I highly recommend it
2. Listen to Christian music: one of my good friends shared with me a 30 day challenge to listen to nothing but Christian music for 30 days. It's a great way to get you through your days both good and bad
3. Start a Bible Study: Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
4. Buy a daily devotion book and start your morning off right in God's word
5. Download a daily devotion app on your phone
May we all strive to train our faith as hard as we do other things in our busy lives. Don't forget: God loves you and wants you to make time for him. He gave us the greatest gift, so the least we can do is train hard for him!!!
Have a great week!
Verse of the week:
Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and He will make your paths straight.
A little extra:
For my Running Friends: i found this online and I am going to keep a paper with me and read a Bible verse each mile in April during my full marathon.
Mile 1: Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age. Matthew 28:20
Mile 2: The Lord will work out his plans for my life. Psalm 138:8
Mile 3: I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as the mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. Matthew 17:20
Mile 4: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. Luke 19:26
Mile 5: I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Mile 6: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can not see. Hebrews 11:1
Mile 7: ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11
Mile 8: Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. I Timothy 4:12
Mile 9: We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Mile 10: Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
Mile 11: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5
Mile 12: With God’s help we will do mighty things. Psalm 60:12
Mile 13: We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3
Mile 14: We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:9
Mile 15: The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Mile 16: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Mile 17: It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5
Mile 18: Be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded. Chronicles 15:7
Mile 19: Whatever you do, do well. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Mile 20: He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. Psalm 91:11
Mile 21: Anything is possible if a person believes. Mark 9:23
Mile 22: The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38
Mile 23: I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize… Philippians 3:13
Mile 24: Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17
Mile 25: I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
Mile 26: Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Mile 26.2: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
I believe not only IN you, I believe YOU.
