We Win by His Mighty Power

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV

In an astonishing story published by Runner's World over the weekend, it was reported that Courtney Dauwalter turned in another dominant victory in the Hardrock 100 early on Saturday morning in Silverton, Colorado, breaking the previous clockwise course record. But she admitted that the last 30 miles were an enormous struggle for her.

The Hardrock 100-miler is considered the most difficult ultradistance trail-running race in North America and one of the toughest in the world. It sends runners on a massive loop through the San Juan Mountains with about 33,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. That includes a huge climb up and over 14,048-foot Handies Peak, one of the 58 peaks in Colorado that rise above 14,000 feet.

Dauwalter won the women’s race for the fourth time in five tries, finishing in fifth place overall in 26 hours, 3 minutes, 10 seconds. Her time surpassed the women’s clockwise course record (26:11:49) she set in 2024…

“I felt good early in the race and was climbing well,” Dauwalter said. “But it was a struggle through the night. All three times I have run (Hardrock) in the clockwise direction, my stomach always goes and I wind up puking before I get to the Sherman aid station. I have planned for it and trained for it and changed my nutrition, but it still happens every time. So I don’t know. There were times I thought I was just going to lay down on the trail and stay there forever."

And, you know, as this story illustrates and every long-distance runner has come to know, struggles are just a part of running the race that no one can opt out of if they want to finish and claim the prize. Which is the reason successful runners learn to anticipate the various struggles, especially the ones that happen every time, and purposefully train to overcome them. 

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Yet the struggle we, as believers, face is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” These are battles you can be sure that can't be fought with physical weapons but with spiritual ones. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11

You see, our spiritual struggles will be enormous, they will be constant, they will come in many ways, shapes, and forms, and they will come from an enemy that is unseen. This is the very reason Paul said that we must be strong and fight in God’s mighty power, rather than our own.

We must put on the FULL armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devils schemes. And let me tell you, the enemy has a lot of schemes… aka plots, ploys, diversions, designs, and strategies! Which means we must not only have the armor on but we must know how to use it! 

So, knowing that we will daily struggle against an invisible and relentless enemy, let us train in the Word continuously my friend. And let us, then, vow to pray at all times and refuse to "lay down" when (not if) the powers of this dark world come to fiercely grapple (that means to wrestle until death) with us to keep us from finishing the race. Let us instead press on to the finish line in "his mighty power." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the race to the end will be filled with deep pain, doubt, discouragement, delays, and despair. Help us to be ready for these battles Lord by training in the Word so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Be Intentional about Sharing the Good News

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV

Before I set out on my morning run yesterday in a busy city where I was attending a work conference, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would lead me to a nice trail where I could spend some alone time with the Lord. And I was not disappointed. 

After meandering through a couple different neighborhoods, I saw a sign that read Malcolm Terrace Park with an arrow pointing me in the direction to where I just knew I was supposed to be. My first thought on arriving there and seeing a trailhead just past the park entrance was “Oh Lord, thank You so much for the answered prayer.” 

I smiled as I stepped onto the trail, and continued smiling as I traveled further down the gravel path and became surrounded by nature. Enveloped by the noises of the birds and the forest creatures, I was overcome with emotion that the Lord loved me so much that He would personally arrange to have some quiet time with me. This time and setting was so precious, in fact, that I didn’t want to keep it to myself. So when I got back to the hotel, I told the front desk so they could tell others. 

The staff thanked me and revealed they had no idea that a walking path (that was something I discovered on the way back), a park, and a trail were that close to the hotel. When I checked in the day before, the only suggestion they had for me was to drive to a local lake—a round trip that would substantially cut into my run time. 
So you can imagine how happy I was after they vowed to pass that information on to other runners who were looking for a place to get away while staying at the hotel.

And you know, while it’s one thing to be intentional in sharing new exercise routes and options with someone, many believers are not intentional about sharing Jesus Christ. 

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

But here’s the deal. Each and every believer is commanded to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This is of utmost importance, especially in the day and age we live where many people are told that there are many trails or roads to eternal life.

But Jesus made it very clear that this was not true when He said, "I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that Jesus is the ONLY route to salvation. 

So don’t be afraid to share the message of the gospel, my friend. Because while discovering a new path is good news, discovering the ONLY path to eternal life is the best news that anyone could ever receive! But how can they discover it if we aren’t intentional in talking about it?

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would not only provide a way to salvation but, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but a way for us to have unhindered fellowship with You. Lord, give us a boldness to share the Gospel at every opportunity that we might do our part in making heaven full. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

There Will Never be Ideal Conditions

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 NKJV

In a story published by Runner's World earlier this week, organizers of the Twin Cities Marathon announced that starting in 2027, they plan to move the race to mid October from its traditional date the first weekend in the month, citing “heat-related risks” and their hope to improve “the likelihood of ideal race day conditions.”

The 2027 race will be held on October 17, assuming organizers are able to secure permits for that date.

Throughout the marathon’s 45-year history, the race has been held the first Sunday in October. The 2026 race will be held on October 4 and had the schedule remained the same, the 2027 race would have been October 3…

Climate scientists say eventually most marathons could be affected by rising temperatures, and in a 2026 report, they projected that by the year 2045, the Chicago Marathon, also held in October, has less than a 25 percent chance of having ideal weather on race day. The New York City Marathon, with its early November race date, will have less than a 30 percent chance of ideal weather by 2045.

And, you know, Race Directors and runners aren’t the only people who pine for ideal conditions. Millions of people around the world today are waiting for the time to be ideal before making the choice to follow Jesus Christ.

But this is the deal... there will never be an ideal or perfect time to follow Jesus. Why? Because there will never be an easy time to follow Him. Jesus made this very clear when “he said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

You see, we live in a world that wants things effortless. We want our meals easy so we eat ultra processed ready to eat food. We want weight loss to be easy so we skip the workouts and go for medicine in the same way that we don’t discipline the flesh to eat what’s good for us, but will take medicine to make up for it. Let’s face it... we live in a world that, for the most part, rejects and despises discipline.

This is the reason that many people wait before denying themselves. Following Jesus takes extreme discipline—the same discipline Jesus showed in fulfilling the mission of walking among us, and then dying on the cross.

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" Matthew 16:21-23

To understand this more, consider the context of Matthew 16. Jesus had just finished telling His disciples that He was heading to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be resurrected. Peter immediately pulled Jesus aside to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Peter wanted a crown without a cross. He wanted the kingdom under ideal, comfortable conditions.

Jesus’ response was blistering. He called Peter "Satan" because Peter was focusing on human comfort rather than divine purpose. Immediately after that confrontation, Jesus turned to the crowd and delivered verse 24.

The lesson is clear: Following Jesus is inherently inconvenient. It demands self-denial in a world that worships self-gratification. It demands carrying an instrument of death (the cross) in a culture obsessed with comfort. It demands immediate action, not delayed negotiation.

If you wait until it's easy, safe, or socially acceptable to fully surrender your life to Christ, you'll wait forever. The world will always provide an excuse to delay obedience.

To truly understand the urgency of "just doing it," we have to look at the very next verses where Jesus explains exactly what is at stake:

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26

This is the ultimate cost-benefit analysis. Jesus removes all gray areas and made it clear that a person cannot sit on the fence forever.

Furthermore, choosing to wait for "better conditions" is actually a choice to reject Him. And the outcome of not following Jesus is catastrophic. You might succeed in preserving your current comfort. You might build a flawless career, protect your social reputation, and accumulate wealth under "ideal" earthly conditions. But in the end, you will have gained a temporary world and forfeited an eternal soul.

So remember this my friend... Losing your soul doesn't just happen in a dramatic moment of rebellion. It happens slowly, through a lifetime of saying, "Not yet, Lord. I'll follow You when things settle down."

So, choose to take up your cross and follow Jesus today, if you haven’t already. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

 
Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that choosing to accept Jesus as our Savior is the ONLY way to salvation. In a world that wants the eternal reward without the earthly restraint, help us to model what it means to follow Jesus with joy so that others would come to understand that trading comfort for the cross brings eternal rewards. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Plan a Running Adventure

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let’s get started by talking about running adventures. Now if that has you reflecting back on what you did over the 4th of July weekend, that’s awesome. This is a great chance to remember the feeling of doing something new and building on it by looking for new opportunities to experience more running adventures.

This was something I was thinking about yesterday while out running in a new place due to attendance at a work conference. My original plan, on the advice of the young lady who checked me into my hotel, was to drive to a nearby lake and run around the trail. But when I got into my car early in the morning and put the address into the GPS, I realized that the time it would take to get to that lake (which was longer than what I was told) and the time it would take to get back would not allow me to get in a sufficient run. So I smiled, put by key in my pocket, and headed out to see what I could find.

Initially, I found myself running along a sidewalk adjacent to a busy roadway, which was disconcerting to my peace to say the least. So I threw up a flare prayer and headed in a direction where I was certain there would be a housing district or two. And I was not disappointed. I ran by a golf course which led me to a plethora of connecting neighborhoods with sprawling yards, mature trees, a few small ponds, singing birds, and even a few deer that I caught munching on the shrubbery. The best part? It was quiet!

It was a great running adventure to say the least because everything was new and everything was fresh. I found that it put a pep in my step, literally. So much so that I'm actually looking forward to my run today and the remaining days I'll be staying at the hotel. Running somewhere new sure takes the monotony out of running in the same place day after day. 

And this is exactly why it’s a great idea to plan new adventures. 

Think about it this way…

Every runner knows the feeling. You tie your shoes, step out your front door, and turn down the exact same sidewalk you’ve run hundreds of times before. You know every crack in the pavement, every tree, and exactly when the hill starts to burn. Routine builds consistency, but it can also breed monotony.

As a running coach, I often see athletes (including myself) hit a mental plateau. When running starts to feel like a chore rather than a release, the best remedy isn’t necessarily running less—it’s changing where you run.

So, the next time you travel out of town for work, family visits, or a vacation, you shouldn't leave your running shoes at home. View being in a new area not as a disruption to your training schedule, but as a blank canvas. Exploring new paths is one of the most exciting ways to break up running monotony and inject fresh joy into your miles. For real!

On that note consider this....

Why You Should Explore New Paths

Destroys Mental Fatigue: New sights, sounds, and terrains stimulate your brain, making long miles fly by much faster.

Builds Physical Resilience: Running on unfamiliar trails, rolling hills, or different surfaces forces your stabilizer muscles to adapt, making you a stronger runner.

Offers Authentic Sightseeing: You can see more of a city in a 45-minute morning run than you ever could staring out a tour bus window.

How to Find the Best Paths in a New Town

You don't have to wander aimlessly like I like doing to find a great route. Use these tools to plan ahead:

Heatmaps: Use apps like Strava or Garmin Connect to view "heatmaps." These show you exactly where the local runners actually run.

Segment Explorers: Look up popular running segments online to find well-maintained bike paths, local parks, or pedestrian-friendly bridges.

Local Run Shops: Drop into a local running store or check their website. The staff can point you to the hidden gems and regular community routes.

Smart Safety Tips for Unfamiliar Territory

Exploring is exciting, but safety is always the top priority. Keep these rules in mind before you head out:

Share Your Live Location: Use your phone or running watch to share your live location with a family member or friend back home before you start.

Know the Turf: Ask hotel staff or your host about areas to avoid, wildlife hazards, or tricky terrain before you head out. This is how I found out about the lake and that the area I was in was a safe place to venture out into.

Stay Aware: Leave the noise-canceling headphones in your bag. Keep one ear open or use bone-conduction headphones so you can hear traffic, cyclists, and your surroundings. I use an external clip on speaker that's also a great option.

Run Early: Exploring in daylight is always safer and makes navigation much easier than running through an unfamiliar town in the dark.

Go Explore

Running is a gift, and it is a unique way to experience the world. The next time you pack your bags, look forward to the new paths waiting for you. You might just return home with a completely renewed passion for your daily miles.

And there you have it friends! Life is an adventure made even more exciting by the paths running will take you. So, make it your goal to get out and run in new places. You can start by participating in the BPFS Recycle Run taking place this Saturday. It's free, fun, and a great jumpstart to adventure! 

Happy Running!

The Devil is a Liar

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." John 8:44 NKJV

"I woke up this morning, and really just reflected on the past 2 days. I realized that yes, it wasn't just physically taxing, but also mind changing. I expected sore muscles but I was not expecting what God had planned to really work on. This was like a retreat weekend. Every time I hit the track the Lord showed me lies that I had hidden away but was allowing myself to believe. Lies that have held me back from doing things because I was just too afraid to fail. Lies that I believed, that had me hating my body because it wasn't as athletic as I wanted it to be. I walked away from this grateful for the journey, grateful for the trials, grateful for this body that the Lord uses as His temple. I walked away realizing that I have an obligation to this body. To keep it healthy, to keep it moving, and what I put into it matters. Both what I feed it physically and mentally. I am so grateful for the tribe of people who are in my life. People that stand by me, pray for me, challenge me and discipline me. People that see in me things that I couldn't see. When they call Melissa Sharp a wellness coach, don’t take that title lightly. Our whole being is so much more than just a physical shell. Heal your mind, heal your soul, heal your heart. That is what this weekend did for me."

Those were the words written and posted by my dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Tina Zamora (pictured above in front with the black tank top), yesterday upon taking the time to look back on all that had happened over the holiday weekend. To understand her words, consider that Tina took part in the 5th annual 4x4x48 for the Fourth event that took place at our local high school football stadium. The challenge consisted of running (or walking) four miles every four hours for forty eight hours (which equaled 12 rounds). However, she and my husband modified the challenge to two miles every four hours for forty eight hours. And if you think that's easy, think again. One of the biggest challenges she faced was sleep deprivation. On top of that, she battled the July heat and humidity, made worse by the track that made the feel-like temp even hotter. 

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

Throughout the years that I have directed and participated in this event, I will tell you that we have only had about a handful of people every year (this year there were four) who stick it out for the entire time, although we had close to 100 people come by for a portion of it. The challenge is just that hard! But Tina trudged on and not only learned that she was physically capable of more than she thought possible, but came to understand the importance of treating her body like "the temple of the Holy Spirit" that it is. 

You see, because God permanently indwells Christians and purchased them from the slavery of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our bodies are not our own. Hence the reason, God commanded, through the words of Paul that (since we were bought at a price) we are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which are God's. In other words, believers are to completely yield their personal autonomy to God, viewing themselves as His servants--something that goes directly contrary to the world's view that says "do whatever feels good and makes you happy." 

But here's the deal, the devil is a liar. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." He's been lying since the garden of Eden. He lied to Tina, he lies to me, and he lies to every single person made in the image of God in an attempt to turn them from their Creator. 

"'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'" Romans 12:1-2

But here's the deal. As Tina and I discussed throughout the 48 hours we spent together, we weren't created to honor God with certain parts of our lives but with our whole lives. This is the very reason Paul said, "'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." 

That means everything that we do with our bodies matters! Think about it this way... would you arrest the person who went in and spray painted the Church house that you belong to? Of course you would because it's destruction of property! But this is the very thing that we do when we eat processed foods, when we pollute our minds by what we take in with our eyes and with our ears, and when we don't exercise as we should. We destroy our bodies one step at a time. 

Furthermore, this honoring God isn't only about what we do but about how we think. Which is the very reason Paul continued by saying, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Paul was saying, "Don't believe the lies of the world! And definitely do NOT think like the world does by buying the lies of the enemy, but align your thoughts with what the Bible declares to be true, godly, healthy, and holy.”

This means that we are to read God's Word, commit His commands to memory, and then live it out for the world to see. Will we face opposition? Of course! Following the Lord is not easy! Just as it took discipline for Tina to fight her body's desire to sleep and choose to get up and walk instead, it takes discipline to say, "I will not eat, say, think, or do anything that damages the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is me. I will not believe the lies of the enemy but will choose to see myself as God sees me and will choose to use this body to bring Him glory, even if it's hard!" 

"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17

Last but not least, honoring God with our bodies means choosing our friends wisely and making time to fellowship with them often—encouraging them to honor God with their own bodies and to hold us accountable to do the same. This is what’s called spiritual sharpening, just as "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." This mutual sharpening is one of the greatest weapons against the lies of the enemy that we could ever take advantage of. 

So, treat your body like the temple that it is my friend, that you might show yourself set apart from the world, set on glorifying the Lord, and ready and able to tear down the lies of the enemy. It won't be easy, I can promise you that. But it will be worth it! Just ask Tina. The devil told her that she couldn't do it, but her God said, "Oh yes you can." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are not our own and that we have no right to treat them as we please. Father, give us the desire to read the Word every day, to commit it to memory, and to allow it to transforms our minds, hearts, habits, and lives. Lord, remind us that the devil is a liar so that we won’t fall prey to his tactics but will press on until the end. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Jesus Makes us Clean

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NKJV

As my husband and I have done for the past several years, we showed up at our local high school track Friday afternoon to get set up for the 4x4x48 on the Fourth event that I direct and personally participate in. This is an endurance event where a person runs (or walks) 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours to not only test their limits but to help support local charities.

While unpacking supplies, I remarked to my husband that this was going to be another hot extended weekend. And I was not wrong. It was typical July weather in Missouri… very hot and very humid. 

As you can imagine then, after 48 hours and 48 miles of running around a steamy track and camping onsite with no access to showers, I was more than ready to get home and to get “clean.” “I feel so gross,” I said to my husband more than once. “And I know I probably stink,” to which he replied, “We all stink at this point honey.”

Which was the very reason that, upon finally stepping out of the shower late Sunday afternoon, I smiled and thanked the Lord over and over for the blessing of being clean. The knowledge of that God-given blessing then caused me to say, “Lord, thank You for making me more than just clean on the outside. Thank you for making me clean on the inside as well, by forgiving my sins and cleansing me from all unrighteousness."

But, you know, if I'm honest, I'd have to admit that I haven’t always felt this way. In fact, for most of my life, I carried around guilt and shame for the many things I had done wrong and for all the mistakes I had made—guilt and shame that made me feel so dirty that I felt I could never be made clean. Even though I believed in Jesus, I still couldn’t let it go. And let me tell you, the weight of that guilt was wearing me down. 

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” - Psalm 103:12

“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah” Psalm 32:5 BSB

Thankfully though, I finally came to understand that the guilt I was carrying around was preventing me from truly believing that “as far as the east is from the west” so far were my transgressions removed from me. It was only then that I asked the Lord to remove the guilt of my sin.

And let me tell you, knowing that God forgave the guilt of my sin changed everything! I began to finally see myself in a different way—a way that Natalie Grant explains perfectly in the song "Clean.” 

I see shattered
You see whole
I see broken
But You see beautiful
And You're helping me to believe
You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
What was dead now lives again
My heart's beating, beating inside my chest
Oh I'm coming alive with joy and destiny
'Cause You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
There's nothing too dirty
That You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I'm clean, I'm clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I'm clean
I am clean
I'm clean
Oh You made me
You wash me
Clean
Oh You made me clean

So, if you’re carrying around guilt today, let it go my friend. It has no place in the life of the believer who has turned from their sin and placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Let the reality of your confessed sin, instead, cause you to remember that God is faithful and just to forgive your sins as far as the east is from the west.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who forgives and restores all those who come to You with repentant hearts. Lord, help us to truly understand that our sins are wiped clean so that we would not live with the guilt that will keep us from moving forward and declaring Your power to save and restore to others. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

True Independence is Dependence on Jesus

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

Like many people around our country today, you’re probably making preparations to celebrate Independence Day with a run, barbecue, float trip, fireworks, or all of the above. But, like many other people around our country today, you might not fully understand what it is you’re celebrating. 

Luckily, the Encyclopedia Brittanica gives us the scoop on the 4th of July: It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This document announced the separation of the 13 North American colonies from Great Britain. In 1870 the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal workers, and in 1938 it became a paid federal holiday. Also called the Fourth of July, the holiday is celebrated across the United States with parades, fireworks, shows, picnics, concerts, and other festivities. Independence Day is also notable for its displays of patriotism, as many Americans commemorate the day by flying the American flag and dressing in the flag’s colors of red, white, and blue.

And, you know, while I was thinking about how grateful I was to live in the greatest country on earth where I have the freedom to openly worship my Creator yesterday, I remembered a Church billboard I once read that said, "TRUE INDEPENDENCE IS DEPENDENCE ON JESUS." Hmmm, I thought then and I thought now. What does that really mean?

Well, if independence can be defined as the state of showing a desire for freedom, and freedom defined as liberation from slavery, I'd say it means that true independence can only result from being released from the chains of the bondage of sin. And that release can only come from our dependence on--or our putting our complete reliance, confidence and trust in--Jesus. 
You see, it's only when we accept Jesus as our Savior and truly believe that God loves, accepts and forgives us, that we are free from the burden of sin and free to live for Him knowing that, "the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

So let us celebrate our true independence today by singing praises to the Lord my friend. And let us never forget, as William Barclay said, that "Christian freedom does not mean being free to do as we like: it means being free to do as we ought." That's true independence from sin. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that true independence and freedom comes from knowing who we are in You and knowing that You have released us from the chains of sin and condemnation to live as sons and daughters of the King. May this knowledge refresh our hearts today as we celebrate what it truly means to be free. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!