Focus on prevention

'Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV

In a timely article published this week by Women's Running titled "5 Common Summer Skin Problems Runners Face," sunburn was listed as the number one summer skin problem. The solution? To focus on prevention, they said, and to make SPF your friend. We know you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s important enough to repeat: Sunscreen is non-negotiable for runners, even on a cloudy day. “When you’re going to be perspiring, the key is to get a water-resistant formula that will stand up to your workout,” says Dr. Noelle Sherber, a Washington, D.C.–based dermatologist. At the minimum, you need a 30 SPF rating, and a “broad-spectrum” designation on the package, which means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sherber also looks for a combination of mineral and chemical filters, which tend to be most reliable in terms of protection. If you’re out for a long run, chances are that you’ll need to reapply. Most sunscreen packages will give you an estimate (e.g., 80 minutes, though two hours should be the max). Pro tip from Sherber: Set an alarm on your phone to make sure you remember when you need to re-up.

And you know, taking steps to avoid getting sunburned is one way that you and I can avoid pain. Another way is to choose our friends wisely. Why? Because as Paul clearly understood, “bad company corrupts good morals.” You see, whether you and I want to believe it, we are heavily influenced by those people we hang around with the most. Which is the very reason you and I would do well to surround ourselves with godly, moral, and upright people who will help keep us from falling into sin and having to experience the pain that always comes along with it. Now this doesn’t mean that we can’t associate with those people who might not be striving to live a righteous life. After all, these are the people we should be witnessing to. But they shouldn’t be part of the inner circle of friends we consider close and whose influence we know will serve to draw us closer to Christ.

So take sin prevention very seriously my friend—knowing that the after effects of disobedience linger much longer and are much more painful than any sunburn you could ever get.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that consistently hanging around with people that don’t share our same faith and morals can lead us astray. Help us to truly understand this that we would not be deceived Lord. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!