Running in the Heat

Running in the Heat

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

Oh my, it got really hot really quick didn't it?  Ran in the 50s-60s all last week and today it was 94!  I checked the calendar to be sure, but Summer doesn't start for another six weeks.  I'll admit it...I'm not ready for this.   It takes approximately two weeks of running in the heat and humidity to acclimate to warmer conditions (24 hours just doesn't cut it).   Of all the adversities that runners and marathoners face, heat is the number one offender. This is because it can bring on two conditions that can negatively affect your performance… Overheating and Dehydration.

Sometimes in our Christian race, we get overheated and dehydrated too.  It usually happens when we face trial after trial without being equipped to fight  and not remaining full of Living Water . God says in James 1:2, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds."  Notice that He does not say if but when.  And he doesn't say a trial but many.  With our physical bodies, we become dehydrated when we lose too much fluid through sweating and overheated when our bodies cannot keep up with the demands of the sweating process.   To avoid this, its important to monitor our performance, the conditions around us and the demands of the course.  We should treat our spiritual bodies the same way-paying constant attention to clues that might signal we need help or are in danger of not finishing the race. 

Christianityabout.com gives 10 ways to avoid getting off track or not being able to finish strong......

Here's How:

1. Examine your faith-life regularly. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 
2. If you find yourself drifting away, turn back immediately. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13 
3. Come to God daily for forgiveness and cleansing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 
   Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Revelation 22:14
4. Continue daily seeking the Lord with your whole heart.  And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. I Chronicles 28:9 
5. Stay in the Word of God; keep studying and learning daily.  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Proverbs 4:13 
6. Stay in fellowship often with other believers. You can’t make it alone as a Christian. We need the strength and prayers of other believers. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 
7. Stand firm in your faith. Expect difficult times in your Christian life.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22 
   It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.Galatians 5:1 
8. Persevere.  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:15-17 
9. Run the race to win.  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training ... we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  1 Corinthians 9: 24-25 
   I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness...  2 Timothy 4:7-8 
10. Remind yourself of what God has done for you in the past.  Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised … we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. 

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your faithfulness in our lives.  When we get off course, thank you giving us everything we need to get back on track.  Thank you for forgiving us and being the God of second chances.  We love you and we praise Your Holy Name.  Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

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