Drink early and drink often

"This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do." Joshua 1:8 CSB

"Drink early and drink often," I said to myself as I set out early Saturday morning for the first of two back to back 20 mile runs I needed to complete over the weekend as part of my training for an upcoming 100-mile race. Knowing the role proper hydration plays in a person's success in running long distances, this is the non-negotiable mantra that I drill into the runners I coach and into myself. You see, while a person might be able to run a short race without sufficient water, dehydration (which occurs when a person loses more fluid than they take in and their body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions) over a long run or race will negatively affect a runner's performance and could even lead to death.

And you know, the advice to "drink early and drink often" should be heeded in our spiritual lives as well. You see, for the church to "prosper and succeed" as it should, each individual member (that means us) must read, study, learn and inwardly digest the Word of God. We must make the study of the "book of instruction" our first priority (drink early) and our second to "meditate on it day and night" (drink often) so that we will "carefully observe everything written in it." Think of it this way... each and every believer is a participant in the Christian race and for us to reach the finish line, we must be able to follow the rules and run with endurance; two things we can do only if we are hydrated in the Word. 

So drink early and drink often my friend. Set your alarm clock earlier if you have to but make time for Bible study each morning before the day begins and then vow to think deeply and carefully about what you’ve read throughout the day. You'll be so glad you did. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that being spiritually dehydrated will not only keep us from running the race as we should but could literally cause us to drop out. Give us such an unquenchable thirst for your Word Lord that we would not be satisfied until we continually drink it in. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Thirst - Phil Wickham