Be Careful not to Fall

“So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 BSB

In an interesting article titled “Top Mistakes Trail Runners Make In Training” published by trailrunner magazine Tuesday, four experienced runners and coaches shared their biggest mistakes and lessons learned in trail and ultrarunning. And while they all shared some great tips for making it to the finish line, I particularly liked what running coach Sandy Nypaver had to say, “‘Think of everything that can go wrong and have a plan for it: stomach issues, dead legs, aching muscles, eyes getting cold (yes, this is a thing at some races), dry eyes, blisters that hurt with every step, headache, heat exhaustion, becoming cold and wet, the worst chafing imaginable, and more. When you plan for issues, you can be solution-focused rather than problem-focused during the race. Consider that a small blister on the side of your toe might need different treatment than a blister at the bottom of your foot. One might just need a bandaid with KT tape over it and another might need moleskin with a hole cut out to take the pressure off of it.” She went on to say, “Planning for what could go wrong is, in fact, the best way to anticipate how you will overcome challenges if and when they do arise. Having a solution for various problems—from how you will handle a blister to how you will overcome nausea—will allow you and your crew and pacers to handle these issues with ease, while helping you navigate them with greater adaptability and resilience.”

And you know, this approach of being keenly aware that something “could go wrong” at any moment is the exact attitude that Paul urges us to have when he issued this warning, “So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” You see, the child of God who thinks that he or she has arrived is being set up by the devil to be knocked down the moment they let their guard down. Which is why those believers on the mountain top are the most vulnerable to attack. The higher you are, the farther you fall. The closer you get to Christ, the closer you must watch where your feet tread. 

So be on the alert at all times my friend. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, the enemy will always be looking for ways to make you stumble—not taking even one moment off to rest from his deadly pursuit. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we should never get comfortable in our walk with You, thinking that we won’t fall into sin. Help us to be on high alert for the attacks of the devil at all times so that we don’t fall into temptation and tarnish our integrity and witness. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!