Contrary to Popular Belief

“And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” Deuteronomy 10:13 NLT

Before answering the question posed in an article published recently titled, “Should I worry about running damaging my knees?,” the writer explained why so many people think that running hurts the joints. “When you run, every step you take can land with a force equal to almost four times your body weight. Run a mile, and you’re taking 1,500 steps like that. Sure, we’re all born to run, and perhaps even evolutionarily adapted to chase skittish deer across miles of open plain. But our ancestors weren’t running on concrete and the average hunter was probably carrying less weight than the typical London Marathon first-timer.” With that being said, the author answered the question by saying “no, probably not” before going on to explain that, contrary to popular belief, “Lots of studies show that runners have lower instances of knee osteoarthritis than sedentary people. There are also papers which show that runners report less knee pain than sedentary people, and being a runner is linked to reduced disability in later life. Overall, the message from the research is that running is a good thing.’”

And you know, when it comes to other things that go contrary to popular belief, the Lord didn’t say that we “must always obey” His commands and decrees for no good reason or to keep us from having fun as many people believe. Rather we are called to adhere to the Lord’s commands and decrees for our own good. You see, God’s laws and orders give us boundaries to keep us safe and to ensure that society operates in a godly way. For instance, the commandment that says we should not commit adultery keeps the marriage bed pure, keeps the family intact, and keeps men and women from getting sexually transmitted diseases among other things. That’s the very reason always obeying the Lord’s commands and decrees is a good thing. 

So remember that the Heavenly Father loves you my friend. And like a good Father who loves his child, He wants what’s best for you. Which is the very reason He has given us His very good commands and decrees to follow. They keep us safe, happy and in His will. And that’s always a good thing. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that You would give us rules to follow and boundaries to maintain to keep us shielded from things that would harm us physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Help us to truly understand that all this is for our good, regardless of what the popular belief is so that we would praise You for your commands and decrees. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!