BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Embrace Those Bad Training Runs

Hello Runner Friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about the brutal running conditions we've had in the Midwest the last few weeks. If you're like me, you're probably over the intense heat already, or at least over running in the heat (and let's not get started by talking about the humidity). This was something I was thinking about on Monday as I ran a solo marathon in training for an upcoming race. 

The morning temps were amazing and I was running well. But then it got steamy very quickly and I told my husband, who was my support team, that this run was going to last a lot longer than I had anticipated and it was not going to be pretty. 

And indeed it wasn't. It was so ugly, in fact, that when a coworker asked how my Labor Day marathon went the next day that I laughed and said, "Oh man. It sucked. Bad. I mean really, really bad." But then I added, "In that respect, it was a good training run because it will help me be ready to keep going if my mind and body go south on race day." 

What did I mean by that? Well... As a longtime long-distance runner and running coach, I have learned that one of the biggest mistakes runners can make is only training when the conditions are comfortable. Sure, we all love those perfect running days—when the temperature is cool, the clouds are just right, the wind is calm, and our legs seem to cooperate. Those runs are wonderful, but they aren't always the runs that prepare us best for race day… when our minds and our bodies can go south. 

In that respect, it’s easy to see that when you’re training for the Bass Pro Fitness Series, you aren't just training your legs to cover the distance. You’re training yourself to be ready for whatever race day decides to give you. The truth is, we don't get to order our race-day weather. It might be cold. It might be hot. It might be windy. It might be raining from the starting line to the finish line. I’ve seen it all throughout my years! Missouri weather certainly doesn't make any promises. That is exactly why I encourage runners to safely train in a variety of conditions. 

Think about it…If you always skip your run when it's raining, what happens when it's raining on race morning? If you avoid every windy day, what happens when you're fighting a headwind during the final miles of your half marathon? Training isn't just about building mileage. It is about building experience.

2024's Bass Pro Marathon and Half Marathon was  a perfect example of that. Many runners considered the rainy conditions "bad" race weather. But for the runners who had trained in the rain, it wasn't completely unfamiliar territory. They already knew what wet shoes felt like. They knew how their clothing performed when soaked. They knew where chafing might become a problem. They knew how to adjust their pace, watch their footing, protect their gear, and mentally settle into running mile after mile in the rain. What seemed like a "bad" race day became something they had already practiced for. Quite honestly, this will go down as my absolute favorite (out of 15 or so BP finishes) Bass Pro Marathon finish ever, as you can tell by the smiles above!

That is why I tell runners that a "bad" training run isn't always a bad training run when you consider what it produces.

Sometimes the run you wish you could forget is actually one of the most valuable runs of your training cycle. Maybe it starts raining halfway through. Maybe the wind is relentless. Maybe it’s colder than you expected. Maybe your shoes are soaked, your pace is slower than you wanted, and nothing about the run feels easy. You may get home, look at your watch, and think, "That was terrible." But was it?

What if race day looks exactly like that?

Suddenly, that miserable training run becomes experience. You can stand at the Bass Pro starting line, look at the rain coming down, and think, "I've done this before." That confidence is something you can’t get from a training plan on paper. You earn it by showing up.

Training in different conditions also gives you an opportunity to test your gear. Rainy runs teach you which socks are least likely to blister, which clothing becomes heavy when wet, and where you need anti-chafing products. Cold runs teach you how many layers you actually need instead of how many you think you need. Hot and humid runs teach you the importance of slowing down, hydration, electrolytes, and adjusting expectations. Windy days teach patience and effort-based running. Every condition has something to teach us.

There is also a tremendous mental benefit. 

Distance running is rarely about everything going perfectly. Whether you're training for the Bass Pro 5K, Cohick Half Marathon, Bass Pro Marathon, or one of the Dogwood Canyon trail events, there will eventually be a moment when things get uncomfortable. Learning during training that you can keep moving forward when conditions aren't ideal develops the mental toughness that distance running requires.

Of course, training for different conditions does not mean ignoring safety. Severe thunderstorms, lightning, dangerous heat, ice, flooding, or other hazardous conditions are not opportunities to "toughen up." Smart runners know the difference between uncomfortable and unsafe. The goal is preparation, not unnecessary risk.

As your Bass Pro Fitness Series training continues, don't automatically be disappointed when the forecast isn't perfect. That rainy Saturday long run might be exactly the training you need. That windy run may teach you patience. That humid morning may remind you to respect effort instead of obsessing over pace. That cold run may help you finally figure out what to wear on race morning.

Some of my most valuable training runs over the years have been the ones that didn't go according to plan. They taught me how to adapt, how to problem-solve, and most importantly, how to keep going.

Remember: you aren't training for perfect conditions. You are training to be prepared for every condition.

You can't control what the weather will be when you step up to the starting line. You can't control every problem that might happen over 13.1 or 26.2 miles. But you can control how well you prepare.

So the next time you’re tempted to say, "This is going to be a bad training run," consider changing the way you look at it. It might just be the run that prepares you for a "bad" race day—and helps you discover that you are much more ready than you thought.

And there you have it friends. Just because a run might seem like a "bad" one at the time, don't get discouraged. Every run is good one when you remember that every run is a gift. So, keep training and embrace all the "bad" training runs that may stand between you and the starting line. They are the very thing that will help you make it to the finish line. Happy Running!

Do Everything to the Glory of God

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

As I set out at dawn to complete my annual solo Labor Day Marathon (with the help of my sweet husband) yesterday, I couldn’t help but laugh as I considered that the majority of the world’s population would not consider running 26.2 miles for fun enjoyable or relaxing.

In fact, it’s reported that the majority of Americans choose to participate in holiday cookouts on Labor Day, making it a top grilling weekend and time for socializing and relaxing with loved ones.

But this is the deal. As believers, no matter what we decided to do, the Bible is very clear that it should have been done for God’s glory.

This is something made clear in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth when he wrote, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

With these words, Paul reminded them and us that every aspect of our lives—even the most routine, ordinary tasks—holds profound spiritual value.

Starting off his letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul addresses a highly debated topic (1 Corinthians 10:23-30) of the time—whether believers could eat meat previously sacrificed to pagan idols. While Paul confirms that Christians have great freedom in Christ, he shifts the focus from what is simply permitted to what is ultimately beneficial, establishing a universal standard for daily living.

In doing so, Paul declares that even the most mundane acts like eating or drinking should be intentional choices made to honor God and reflect His character. Which means what we eat matters!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

Especially when we consider that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in each and every believer. In light of that we are to “honor God” with our bodies, something that makes everything we do an opportunity to bring Him glory.

Furthermore, living out the command to “do all to the glory of God” means recognizing that worship is not confined to church buildings or special holy days, but is woven into our everyday routines in “whatever” we do. 

You see, when you and I make God's glory our primary standard and goal, our perspective shifts from pleasing ourselves to a desire to point others toward His goodness. Practically, this calls us to consider how our choices affect the faith of those around us, transforming our daily habits—such as our work, hobbies, and conversations—into opportunities to act with integrity, kindness, and love.

Ultimately, the verse serves as a powerful reminder that no action is too small to matter to God, and every choice we make can be a living testimony of our faith.

So “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” my friend. You will not only be acting in obedience to the command to honor God with your body, but will be using every day actions to lead others to the One who inspires this worship.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are not our own. And, as such, everything we do should be done to glorify You. Help us to understand this Lord that we might eat, drink, and act in ways that are pure, honoring, and holy. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Forgive as Christ Forgave

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV

In a story titled “Apologies continue as 13 Edmonton Marathon runners find out they won't go to Boston” posted over the weekend, it was reported that The fallout from the mismeasured Edmonton Marathon continues.

This week, more apologies were issued as organizers confirmed that 13 runners from the Aug. 16 race won’t be going to the Boston Marathon, after all.

The Edmonton race was thrown into controversy soon after the first full-marathon finishers crossed the line. Many runners complained that the times were off, and some recognized they had run more than the accepted marathon distance. At first, organizers said the race conformed to the regulation distance, but later took that back, and accepted that the detour-laden Edmonton course was 674 metres longer than it was supposed to be. That meant all of the full distance runners’ times didn’t conform to a regular marathon distance, which was a real problem considering that Edmonton is a recognized qualifying circuit for the big Boston race.

This week, Edmonton Marathon race director Tom Keogh put out a statement that was a mixed bag. The Boston Marathon organizers had agreed to recognize Edmonton runners’ times despite the fact that the Edmonton race was run at the wrong distance, meaning 92 runners hit Boston Marathon qualifying status. But what the Boston Marathon would not accept was adjusted race times, so 13 runners who might have qualified had the race been run properly won’t be going to New England next year unless they go as spectators.

And, you know, while the Edmonton Marathon organizers apologized repeatedly and vowed to do better, they ultimately have no control over whether their apologies will lead to forgiveness by the 13 runners who were negatively affected by their error.

But this is the deal when it comes to forgiveness, believers "as the elect of God, holy and beloved" are to "put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering." We then are not only to bear with one another, but are to forgive one another, regardless of whether a person apologizes and vows to do better. 
Why? Because, in light of Jesus' work on the Cross, you and I have no right to withhold forgiveness from anyone else—especially from those in the family of God. 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots." Luke 23:34

You see, the Bible is very clear that each and every one of us was undeserving of forgiveness, "in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This is the way the Father demonstrated His great love for us. 

This great and immeasurable love is something Jesus further demonstrated when, while hanging on the Cross for the transgressions of you, me, and all those who played a part in crucifying Him said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." 

And if this has you saying, “Melissa, you don’t understand what this person has done to me, how can I possibly forgive them?” Consider that Jesus forgave those who mocked Him, those who spat upon Him, those who betrayed Him, those who beat Him, and those who drove nails through His hands and His feet.

Now this doesn’t mean that you are to allow the person to hurt you again. But it does mean that you, in obedience to Christ, are to make the decision to not hold something against another person, despite what he or she has done to you, thereby demonstrating the love, mercy, and grace that Jesus demonstrated to you. This may never change the other person, but you can be sure that it will keep your heart from becoming bitter.

So, choose to forgive others as Christ forgave you my friend. It's not always easy, hence the reason we can't do it in our own strength and must do it in His. But it is, ultimately, for our good and for His glory. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the command to forgive others just as You have forgiven us that we might not become bitter and hateful. Help us to truly understand the cost of that forgiveness that we might not hesitate to give it to others. Lord, remind us that harboring unforgiveness rarely hurts the person who harmed us but always hurts the one holding onto it. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

It is Good to Learn Those Lessons

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” Psalm 119:67 NKJV

In a video posted on Tuesday titled “THIS is the moment a South African runner was tripped up during the Durban 10km – before going on to snatch victory,” we see the moment Taylor Kavanagh took a horrible tumble in the early stages of the popular race.

Footage showed Kavanagh being clipped while overtaking a male runner at the 3km mark.

Kavanagh revealed in the post-race press conference that she was irate after hitting the deck.

But the Hollywoodbets Athletics Club member revealed the male runner showed remorse and offered an apology.

Kavanagh said: “My first 5km unexpectedly went by fast, even though the fall kind of threw me off a little bit, I won’t lie.

“But I tried to regain momentum and kept on going as soon as I got back up.

“He came to apologise, which I really appreciate because I must say, I was very furious at that time because it is something you don’t expect to happen often in road running.

If you are going to fall, you’d rather it be at the start and not during the race.

“But it is good to learn those lessons and at least I know that if it happens again one day, I will know what to do…”

Kavanagh went on to become the first female across the finishing line with a time of 31 minutes and 39 seconds. 

And, you know, when it comes to learning lessons, I would have to agree that it is indeed good to experience falls, hardships, and trials. 

They not only teach us that it’s very easy to stumble, but teach us how to get back up again. They also teach us that great victories can follow hard failures--all things that help us to know what to do "if it happens again one day."

This was something the psalmist (most scholars believe it to be King David) alluded to when he said “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word." 

The psalmist was reflecting on how his seasons of ease and comfort led him to drift away from his spiritual path and moral teachings. The "affliction"—which referred to adversity, suffering, or being brought low—served as a difficult but necessary correction that guided him back to a focused and obedient life.

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71

Later in the same chapter, the psalmist even states, "It was good for me that I have been afflicted so that I might learn your statutes," highlighting the ultimate value of suffering as a teacher of humility and truth.

"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

So, if you're in a season of affliction right now, hang tight my friend and look up. God is not only teaching you but refining you. And while it may be painful now, you'll understand later that God was working it all for your good and His glory. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that times of comfort and ease never lead to times of growth. Help us to submit to You in our times of affliction Lord knowing that You will use them to make us more like You. For that Lord, help us to rejoice as we seek to not only KNOW the Word but to LIVE it out. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Train up a Child to Know the Love of Jesus

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

Due to my need to attend an early morning seminar yesterday, I was up and out for my run before the sun came up. Compelled by the Holy Spirit to go a different direction than usual, I ventured into a neighboring housing district. 

As is my custom (for safety reasons) when running before daylight, my external speaker was turned off and I ran in complete silence in order to be fully aware of my surroundings. Because of the low visibility (I had only my headlamp), I was startled when I came upon a young girl sitting on the ground (barely noticeable in the darkness) waiting for the school bus, head intently looking at her phone with headphones on. And it seems she was just as startled as I was because she yelled out, “Jesus Christ!” Before adding, “you scared me!” 

Taken aback by the force of her words and the familiarity with which she took the Lord’s name in vain, I replied "Jesus Christ is Lord” to soften the blow.  I then stopped and smiled at her and said, “Jesus loves you. I really hope you know that.” 

At my words, the young girl seemed to let down her guard and quietly said, “Okay.” We then parted ways after telling one another to have a great day. You can be sure that I prayed, and will continue to pray, for her though. 

And, you know, while I don’t know the girls home situation or her background, it wouldn’t be a stretch for me to confidently say that she has heard the name of Jesus used as a curse word before (probably many times), hence the reason it was the first thing that came out of her mouth. This is something that not only grieves my heart as a follower of Jesus Christ but grieves my heart as a daughter of the King. 

You see, while my mother might have had her faults (like all parents do), she followed the command to “Train up a child in the way he should go.” And even though I strayed from that training for a long season, I never departed from the faith and understand now just how much Jesus loves me. 

Which is the very reason I was pained at the words this young girl spoke and why I pray that she will come to understand just how much she is loved and cherished by the Savior. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 

So, if you’re a parent, take the command to train up your children in the way they should go seriously my friend, so they would understand just how much they are loved. And, if you’re not, I pray you’ll never miss an opportunity to remind someone that God loves them so much and that He gave His only begotten Son to prove it. So that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would provide a Way to save us. Help us to truly understand this that we might be emboldened to share this Truth with others that they might take Your precious name in vain. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Lessons we Can Learn

Hello Runner Friends! 

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about lessons and inspirations. This was something I was thinking about after reading the amazing story titled “At 91, Dale ‘Grey Beard’ Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail” yesterday. 

Talk about inspiring right??? I mean there are people half Dale’s age and half that age that would never attempt what he did! I don’t know about you, but I find his feat not only motivating but challenging! And I hope you do too. 

I hope that you read his story and say to yourself, “If Dale can do that, then I can do (fill in the blank).” “And if Dale could overcome all those hurdles, I can overcome (fill in the blank).”

So without further ado, let’s dive into Dale’s story together and see what we lessons (marked by an *asterisk sign) we can take away from it. 

More than 14 million older adults fall every year in the U.S., perhaps none so often as 91-year-old Dale Sanders.

*Lesson 1: Falling is a part of life. Get used to it. 

By his count, Sanders fell 7 times while reclaiming his record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Six were what he calls hard falls, including one that led to a brief hospitalization and another just 200 yards from the finish. But none were enough to permanently divert him from the 2,193-mile (3,530-kilometer) trail that runs between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.

*Lesson 2: We get to choose whether we stay down after a fall. 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy defines a thru-hike as completing all of the trail’s sections in any order within a year, allowing for pauses. Sanders started Sept. 6 in West Virginia, hopscotched around with some brief breaks and finished Monday atop Maine’s highest peak, where he paused to pray at the sign marking the summit.

*Lesson 3: Pausing to do what’s important should be a part of your plan. 

*Lesson 4: There’s power in prayer. 

“I had to thank God, and I had to thank my support team and everybody that got me here,” he said.

*Lesson 5: Gratitude keeps the mind happy and the legs moving. 

A long-planned comeback

Sanders, whose trail name is Grey Beard, first set the Appalachian Trail record in 2017 at age 82. Four years later, his 83-year-old friend M.J. Eberhart, aka Nimblewill Nomad, took the title. But within months, Sanders announced his comeback plan.

*Lesson 6: Never rest on your past accomplishments. Always strive to be better… no matter how old you are. 

*Lesson 7: It’s never too late for a comeback. 

While Sanders’ first journey was easier than he expected, the latest was considerably harder. Despite six months of training, he said he wasn’t in the best condition when he returned to the trail.

*Lesson 8: Age might make things harder but it doesn’t make things impossible. 

“And even today, I feel that I should probably be in better shape than I am,” he said last month. “But I just have to always go back and say, ‘But I am 91, so I’m blazing new ground hiking long distances like this.’”

*Lesson 9: Celebrate what your body can do. Everyone grows older but we don’t have to grow up… keep a youthful and optimistic mindset. 

In June, Sanders was descending Killington Mountain in central Vermont when he fell forward in a boulder field, scraping his legs, arms and hands.

*Lesson 10: Scrapes heal. 

“Thank God nothing got broken, but I was banged up,” he said. “I didn’t rub the blood off, I just kept hiking.”

*Lesson 11: Thank God and keep going. 

Weeks later, his left arm went numb and he ended up at a Maine hospital. What doctors initially feared was a stroke turned out to be a pinched nerve, but though he was soon cleared to resume hiking, he considered giving up.

*Lesson 12: When considering giving up, see lesson 13. 

He returned home to Tennessee in early August to be with his wife, whose mother had just died, and she convinced him to press on.

*Lesson 13: Find a cheerleader and make them a forever part of your life. 

His mission changed along the way

Some of Sanders’ best days were in Pennsylvania, where he enjoyed well-maintained trails and treats delivered by “trail angels.”

*Lesson 14: Life is full of ups and downs. The best days are filled with both. 

“When people are taking care of you and bringing you caramel frappes on the trail, the rocks don’t matter,” he said.

*Lesson 15: - Enjoy the good times in life. They remind us that the bad ones aren’t so bad. 

In fact, Sanders has become something of a star among fellow hikers. Thousands more follow him on social media, which surprised Sanders and caused him to expand his mission beyond reclaiming his record.

*Lesson 16: Don’t let praise produce pride. Remain humble and keep pressing on. 

“I wanna get it back, but right now, that’s secondary,” he said. “Right now, what’s the most important thing – and it’s one of the things that surprised me – is that people are motivated and given encouragement by my efforts.”

*Lesson 17: Live to inspire others to do hard things. 

Meredith Ewenson, who met Sanders in June while leading a hike in New Hampshire for 10 other women, said he embodied not just the idea that anything is possible, but that the journey matters most.

*Lesson 18: Don’t be so focused on the finish that you don’t enjoy the journey. 

“Seeing it in real life is something that I’ll definitely remember forever,” she said.

Ewenson said her group spotted Sanders early in the morning, but it wasn’t until he blazed by them hours later that they saw the Grey Beard logo on his T-shirt and realized who he was. They caught up with him that night at an Appalachian Mountain Club hut, arriving around 4 p.m.

“I got here at noon,” he told them.

The next morning, she and others cheered as Sanders performed a “victory dance” before setting off again.

“My first thought was ‘Wow, his mobility is insane,’” Ewenson said. “His face on that body just doesn’t make any sense. My brain couldn’t compute how he was so impossibly fit for being that age.”

*Lesson 19: We all have to grow old. But we all get to choose how we do that. Seek to treat your body like the temple that it is and it will not only serve you well but will inspire others to do the same. 

Off-trail adventures

Sanders was born in Kentucky in 1935, two years before the Appalachian Trail was completed. Bullied as a child for his small size, he gained confidence in solo sports like acrobatics and swimming. He later served in the Navy and retired in 2002 after a long career in parks and recreation.

*Lesson 20: Don’t let your early circumstances dictate your course of life. 

Sanders holds numerous other age-related records, including becoming the oldest person to paddle the entire length of the Mississippi River, an 87-day trip he started on his 87th birthday.

*Lesson 21: Celebrate birthdays with style. 

On his latest adventure, he tackled obstacles like downed trees or steep scrambles with vigor, though he started to get a bit wobbly toward the end of one 12-mile (19-kilometer) day. He laid down on the trail, said he needed a power nap and briefly fell asleep.

Two minutes later, he got up and kept hiking.

*Lesson 22: Life is full of challenges and ups and downs. Rest when you need to. Make recovery a priority. But never quit moving. 

And there you have it friends. There are so many lessons to learn from people like Dale Sanders who choose to make the most of life. And that’s where we have lesson number 23…. We only have one life and it’s short. So, live it in such a way that you wear yourself out and inspire the next generation to keep getting up and to keep hiking. Happy Running!

We are All Like Lost Sheep

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments." Psalm 119:176 NKJV

In a disturbing story published by Fox 8 Lansing over the weekend, it was reported that an 11-year-old boy who became separated from his cross country team and spent about two hours lost in the woods in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was found safe, authorities confirmed.

The boy was running near the Canada Lakes Pathway trailhead when he lost contact with his team on Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in a social media post. Conservation officers received a call from local dispatch at 7:29 p.m. reporting that the child had been missing for about an hour.

Working with the Luce County Sheriff’s Department, conservation officers organized a search, the department said. The first pair of volunteers found the boy safe and healthy within 45 minutes, and he was reunited with his mother.

“Keep eyes on him. Don’t take eyes off of him,” a conservation officer can be heard telling volunteers in body camera footage shared by the DNR. The officer then starts speaking with volunteers as he runs down a trail.

“How’s your run?” the officer then asks the boy once he reaches them.

And, you know, while we don't know how this young boy lost contact with his team, the story serves as a warning that going astray can happen very quickly. This is true in our spiritual life as well. Hence the reason, the psalmist said, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments." 

In describing himself as "like a lost sheep," the psalmist was acknowledging that just as sheep wander away from the flock--because they become absorbed in grazing, get distracted, or lose track of their surroundings--he was prone to wander even though he does not forgot God's commandments. 

To understand how this could happen, consider that a sheep keeps its head down while intently eating grass and, in doing so, can become oblivious to their surroundings. In this way the sheep can slowly move away from the flock or not realize that the flock has moved away from them. Since sheep are then very prone to fear, they can quickly become distressed when they realize they are alone. 

In fact, when a sheep wanders away from its flock, its first and strongest reaction is usually intense panic. Because sheep are prey animals with a powerful herd instinct, isolation strips away their only real sense of security. Once separated, a lone sheep will typically stop grazing and begin bleating loudly in a desperate attempt to locate its companions. 

Unfortunately, instead of navigating its way back to safety, the panicked animal often wanders aimlessly or freezes in place out of fear. This disorientation frequently leads them into dangerous situations, as their poor depth perception causes them to stumble into ditches, wander onto steep ledges, or get their thick wool tangled in briars and brambles.

In the worst cases, a lost sheep might roll onto its back and become "cast," a helpless position from which they cannot right themselves without human assistance. Left unprotected and without any natural defense mechanisms, a wandering sheep is highly vulnerable to predators and completely dependent on a shepherd or handler to find and rescue them.

As you can clearly see, then, our first reaction when we have strayed (and every person will stray from time to time) is to follow the example of the psalmist and cry out to the Lord, "Seek Your servant." This simple prayer acknowledges that we have no power to find our way back by ourselves and need the Good Shepherd to lead us back into the safety of the flock. 

"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles." Psalm 34:17

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own." John 10:14

The best part? The Good Shepherd knows His sheep (that's you, me, and every other person who has trusted Him as Savior), hears their bleatings no matter where they are, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry." Psalm 34:15

"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

So, if you're looking around at your life today and saying, "Wow, I sure have strayed off course and gotten lost," take heart my friend. The eyes of the Lord have always been upon you, His ears have always been open to your cry, and when you confess your sins, He is faithful to forgive and lead you back home. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that, although we will all go astray, You never take your eyes off of us nor are You ever deaf to our cries for help. Lord, cause those who are lost today to turn from their ways and seek You so they can be led back home. Thank You for being a Shepherd who loves His sheep so much that You would die for them. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!